Martin Brady (Dublin North East, Fianna Fail)

I thank the Minister for his reply. Did the Minister have any discretion in respect of declaring the redundancy a voluntary severance scheme? If the Attorney General had not declared the matter a collective redundancy, we could have avoided paying the rebate to Irish Ferries. If the matter had not been declared a redundancy, could the former employees have received their compensation tax-free? How much was the average redundancy worth?

Does the Minister have information on how many Irish Ferries workers have found employment elsewhere and is he aware that the replacement crews are mainly non-nationals whose working conditions are unacceptable? Do we intend to take action or investigate this matter?

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