Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

There are firm commitments in the programme for Government to increase job creation and the protection of workers' rights. I draw the Taoiseach's attention to an urgent and serious employment issue in Clonmel, County Tipperary, that is developing in a company called SNC-Lavalin. It is a multinational based in Montreal which has 50 office staff employed in Clonmel. When SNC-Lavalin took over from Kentz, a wonderful indigenous company that provided huge employment, guarantees were given to the staff. Now I find that many employees, without warning, have been put on notice that they face redundancy under extremely unfavourable terms and conditions. For some of them it will happen this week while for others it will be in two weeks. There is a commitment to employment and the support of workers in the programme for Government. Will the Taoiseach direct his Minister sitting beside him to engage with the issue as a matter of urgency and do all she can to prevent this happening? This wonderful company has been in existence for 60 or 70 years and for the workers to be treated like this two or three years after it was taken over is wrong.

See this speech in context