Séamus Healy (Tipperary, Workers and Unemployed Action Group) | Oireachtas source

The staff at Suir Pharma in Clonmel were treated appallingly by this company. I met some of them at lunchtime on Tuesday and they were shocked at the difficulties which had arisen and the fact that the company had gone to the High Court at 11 o'clock that morning, appointed a provisional liquidator and had that person on the site with his security people before lunchtime. Many of the workers have been with the company since it was founded 43 years ago at the Gashouse Bridge in Clonmel and they have given huge and loyal service. The manner in which they have been treated is appalling. In effect, this was done behind their backs and they now face the loss of their jobs and of being paid only statutory redundancy.

There is a huge problem in relation to the takeover of this company by Sanika less than 12 months ago. I ask the Minister to investigate the situation whereby this purchase of the company appears to be of a predatory nature and with the sole purpose of closing Suir Pharma. I ask the Minister not only to look into that but to tell the House whether the company notified the State agencies as to the difficulties it said were there. If so, when did it do that and what action did the State agencies take? Did the company avail of grants from the State agencies and the Department and, if so, will those grants be repaid? Will the Minister ensure that this type of predatory purchasing by foreign companies will be stopped and that the workers will get reasonable redundancy terms? They are only being offered statutory redundancy and, indeed, it appears the State will have to pay it. The workers are entitled to decent and fair redundancy payments having provided service over the years.

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