Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The issue is much more straightforward. The company was insolvent. An application was made to the High Court for the appointment of a liquidator and it was approved. The liquidator or personnel on its behalf have said all of the workers are now redundant and that P45s will be issued this week. The workers are protected under redundancy legislation, but the company is completely insolvent. A different issue arises for the concession holders in Clerys, for whom it would have managed the business, taking a fee, with the money being lodged elsewhere. Obviously, claims are in for the return of that money for the past month and the release of stock to the concession holders. In so far as the State is concerned, there is protection for the workers under the redundancy payments scheme which will click in tomorrow. Liberty Hall is being made available to advise workers of their rights and opportunities and the fact that the Department will expedite the payments to be made. The point I am making is that while company law is very complex, the question raised by Deputy Micheál Martin is one that could be considered by the company law review group when the report on all of these issues comes back from the Minister of State with responsibility for business, Deputy Gerald Nash.

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