Joe Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)

The question relates to the measures the Government plans to take to ensure that Greencore workers' rights to redundancy terms based on full unadjusted salary applicable at the date of redundancy plus 20% as provided in the agreement between the company and the union are upheld. Greencore sent a letter to the Labour Court stating it was not in a position to come back to the court. On 17 October the court expressed disappointment that the company was unable to accept the invitation to attend a further meeting in a final attempt to resolve the impasse.

As mentioned by the other speakers, the court also stated that for the avoidance of doubt it wished to state that it was intended in the recommendations that the staff on annualised salaries should have their ex gratia lump sum calculated by reference to their full unadjusted salary applicable at the date of redundancy plus 20% as provided in the agreement between the company and the union.

I have received a copy of a document issued by the Minister, Deputy Coughlan, following her agreement allow sugar production to cease. The document clearly referred to compensation for redundancy payments in line with recommendations of the Labour Court. If the Minister stated that redundancy would be paid in accordance with the Labour Court recommendation, she has an obligation in that regard.

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