Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I wish to contribute to the debate on this amendment because, as Deputy Tóibín pointed out, there are some unscrupulous employers in operation here. These people will go to major lengths to hide behind the law in general or use corporate law to undermine the rights of workers. I do not wish to be parochial but I am aware of a case in my constituency which provides an indication of what can happen. I refer to a company, Highway Retail, which just decided to lay off its employees and deny them their rights. Some of the employees have been working for this company for 24 years and they are now involved in a sit-in at a petrol station it operates. Basically, they are seeking their rights and entitlements under employment law. There appears to be an unwillingness to confront the stark reality that some employers may be disposed to abusing the rights and entitlements of their employees. The case in Cork North-Central highlights that fact. Lock-ins or sit-ins took place at the premises of a number of other companies in Cork in the past. The employers involved in these various disputes have undermined labour law and employment rights protection. There needs to be a recalibration of the rights of the rights and entitlements of individual employees.

The company to which I refer, Highway Retail-----

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