Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I referred to that matter in referring to the committee of inspection. This should happen. It is rare for the Department of Social Protection to be represented on such a committee, but in this case, given that, essentially, the Minister for Social Protection will become a preferred creditor when payments are made to staff who have been left high and dry because of this transaction, it is the appropriate thing to do. The liquidators also have a statutory obligation to provide for the Director of Corporate Enforcement, within six months of their appointment, a report on the conduct of the directors of the company and to assist him in carrying out his functions. As I understand it, in the context of the High Court hearing last week, a statement of affairs is also expected from the previous directors of the company who owned the Clerys site going back 12 months. That is an interesting development. No one can be satisfied with how this saga has played out. The Clerys staff and the concession holders and their staff have been left high and dry.

I have been doing my utmost to assist them as best I can. As we have said, this is an evolving situation and we will keep a very close eye on it.

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