Jim Daly (Cork South West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for allowing me to raise this issue. It is not new and the matter has been ongoing for two years. It involves 12 families in the town I am privileged and honoured to serve, Clonakilty. Two years ago, Hood Textiles, a factory in the town, closed without any notice. On that day, the 12 workers turned up for work and found the doors locked, and from that day to this, those people and their families have been trying to get what is owed to them. To add further injury to the injustice of the 12 workers, the company is in receivership but has not been liquidated. If it had been liquidated, the workers would enjoy the same rights as any other worker who has been unfortunate enough to lose a job. The 12 families have not just experienced the terrible trauma of having their livelihood terminated without any notice, with a lock placed across the door, but the further injury is that the 12 families feel a double grievance because they are owed money by the employer for holiday pay and other terms and conditions that all workers enjoy.

There was a recent, very high profile case in Dublin involving 500 workers at Clerys but I argue that the 12 workers in Clonakilty are every bit as valuable to the community and their families are equally impacted. There were no cameras or headlines for the 12 families to assist them or promises of Government action but I have been doing my duty as a public representative over the two years and met those people numerous times. They do not have the financial resources to take the legal steps, although they have engaged at some level legally. They do not have the resources to take a case like this to the High Court to get justice.

I have raised the matter with the Minister and the Department for two years through parliamentary questions and correspondence but I have been getting the same answer. I have been told that a review is taking place and it is expected to end shortly. The families are getting tired and fed up, as they have lost their livelihood, which is difficult to take. There is a further loss and grievance as the Government and the State are also turning their backs as well.

They now regret that they did not do what many other workers did and stage a sit-in, commanding the attention of the State and the media, at the time. They took the hit very gracefully and did what they could themselves. I have done my bit for them but I am reaching an end point now. We owe it to these 12 families, and this is not just about those 12 families in Clonakilty. There are numerous other families the length and breadth of this country who have had the misfortune to lose their job and to have this grievance added to it. I look forward to the Minister of State outlining any plans to complete that review so we can finally get justice for these 12 families and all the other families in the country as well.

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