Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour) | Oireachtas source

The various proposals made by ICTU generally relate to company law and the conduct of directors. I know that ICTU representatives have met my ministerial colleague, Deputy Richard Bruton, in that regard. It is worth making the point, however, that the report I published in a timely fashion after the closure of Clerys and the related events takes that issue very seriously. It suggested, as I recommended, that the Department of Social Protection become a member of the committee of investigation, which essentially is a committee of the court and an important part of the liquidation process which is ongoing. It is only when all of the facts and events leading up to the winding up of Clerys are fully known, with any legal challenge that could potentially be initiated in that respect, that an informed decision can be made on whether any amendment to company law is required. As the Deputy knows, company law is continuously kept under review domestically and in the European context, as well as through the work of the company law review group. The group's current work programme includes items on winding up, receivership and examination.

We are all troubled by and distressed at the way in which the Clerys workers were treated. There is an ongoing liquidation process, at the conclusion of which the Government and I hope any subsequent Government will not be found wanting in providing important protections for workers given what happened at Clerys and in the context of the lessons learned from it. We are all very concerned about the situation at Clerys.

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