Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I appreciate that the Department must examine the balance and other such matters. We had a detailed discussion with ICTU and the various unions, including SIPTU and Unite. All the trade unions are of one voice on this. We want the legislative changes brought forward and the Pensions Act 1990 significantly amended. There will be funding obligations coming forward that will curtail the smart alec employers from walking away from their obligations. These people have significant funding and are not even insolvent employers. If they were, sometimes the employees would be in a better position, as with Waterford Glass. In this case, however, people who are very well off are making sure to enrich themselves and to give bigger shareholder payments and dividends, while throwing to the wolves the unfortunate workers who have contributed many years of their working lives. We want to ensure that does not happen. I urge the Minister to keep it at the top of her agenda.

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