Arthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)

I appreciate the point made by the Minister of State that provisions elsewhere in the Bill would make financial provision for employees. Nevertheless, we need to send a clear message to rogue employers and to equip the courts with the means to sanction huge companies that might abuse the system and their employees. A fine of €250,000 would not be significant to a large company with, perhaps, 1,000 employees. Cheaper labour continues to be sought by companies and the race to the bottom is ongoing. In those circumstances it is necessary to consider a substantially greater fine. A fine of €250,000 would be considered paltry by many large or even medium sized companies. My amendment would impose a fine of €2.5 million for the dismissal of ten employees. Even that amount is a pittance compared to the profits made by some companies. Irish Ferries made severance payments of €29.1 million. Such a company would laugh at a court that imposed a fine of €250,000.

See this speech in context