Martin Ferris (Kerry North, Sinn Fein)

I thank the Minister for her reply. Is the Minister aware that a reply to a question by Mary Lou McDonald, MEP, to the European Commission two weeks ago stated that compensation for the closure of the sugar plants at Mallow and Carlow would only be paid once all the members and actions defined in the restructuring plan had been implemented by the undertaking and verified by the member state? The reply further stated that this system enables the member state to ensure that all obligations linked to the restructuring plan, such as redundancy arrangements for the workers, are met.

Does the Minister accept, given that Greencore has refused to honour its original agreement with the Mallow workers, it is not entitled to draw down the full amount awarded to it, particularly in light of the fact that the €4.4 million owed to the workers pales in comparison to the €146 million awarded to Greencore in compensation? Does the Minister also agree that in refusing to comply with an order of the Labour Court, Greencore has, in effect, admitted it is in the wrong? Has the Government not an obligation, as holder of the public share in the company, to ensure Greencore does not receive one cent of compensation until such time as it has honoured its original commitment to the workers and has lived up to all the outstanding commitments to the workers in both factories?

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