Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

Before I respond to the Deputy, I pay tribute to the life and work of the late Mr. John Cunningham, a native of Tuam, who was editor of The Connacht Tribune for many years. He understood the changing face of Ireland and articulated what he had observed with great truth and courage. I called to see him some time ago and spent some time in his presence. He was a gentleman who loved his job as an editor and the responsibilities that went with it.

Deputy Micheál Martin's question raises many issues in respect of moral responsibility and the law in the context of the rights of workers and the position of firms. As he is aware, I met Ms Eager, the union representative, and a number of workers in Cork last week. As he pointed out, the Vita Cortex workers have given several hundred years of cumulative service to the company. They have informed me that they want to be shown respect and treated fairly in comparison with all other Vita Cortex workers who left the company's various plants throughout the country who all received 2.9 weeks pay per year of service, whereas those in Cork are being offered two weeks pay per year. The workers in Cork engaged in a sit-in during the Christmas period and have been in occupation of the plant for over 50 days. The Minister for Jobs, Enterprise, and Innovation, Deputy Richard Bruton, made his officials available to talk to the trade union representatives in order to clarify a number of matters. He also invited the Labour Relations Commission to become involved. Two meetings took place with both sides, but matters did not proceed beyond that point.

The Director of Corporate Enforcement has informed the Minister that he has considered the information in his possession - the Deputy may have received the relevant correspondence - regarding the claims made about the capacity of the company to make available the additional €374,000 required to resolve the matter, taken legal advice in respect of it and is satisfied that there are insufficient grounds on which to take a formal action against the company at this time. That was on the basis of his assessment of the claim that Vita Cortex and its owner were in a position to provide the extra €374,000 necessary to bring redundancy payments up to the level of 2.9 weeks pay per year of service.

Many are following the case with a degree of interest. I feel for the workers involved because they are very decent people. What annoys me is that they facilitated the company in the removal of specialist and sophisticated equipment from the plant, allegedly in order that it could be overhauled and repaired. They did so on the specific understanding that when the process was concluded, they would be properly compensated, namely, that they would receive the equivalent of what everyone else had obtained.

I met the Minister yesterday to discuss this difficult problem. We should continue to exhaust all of the mechanisms at our disposal. It is not nice that the workers are sitting in the plant and feel very aggrieved as a result of what has happened. The Department of Social Protection has processed the statutory redundancy payments which I understand will be paid next Monday. Obviously, the State has moved to do this for the workers. I intend to give a report to the Labour Relations Commission, arising from the meeting with the workers and their union representatives, and invite it to become involved again before I consider taking further action arising from the Deputy's request. I feel for the workers. As the Deputy rightly pointed out, there is a moral responsibility. The Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement has informed the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation that he has insufficient grounds to take action against the company.

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