Maurice Quinlivan (Limerick City, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I met with Debenhams workers in my constituency on Monday. I have also met with them on a number of previous occasions. They are a fantastic group of people. They remain strong. They are unbowed and unbroken. If anybody thinks they will wait this out and expect the workers to give up their protest, it is not going to happen. They would be very much mistaken. The workers' passion and commitment to their cause is as strong now as it was in April when Debenhams, using the cover of Covid, closed its shops throughout the State. Today marks 160 days since the start of the pickets outside the shops. The workers did this, as the Minister of State is aware, to make sure the assets were not taken out and so the workers could keep some chance of getting some sort of fair redundancy, to which they are entitled. Many of the workers have worked for Debenhams for decades, as Deputy O'Reilly has said. One man I met in Limerick had worked in the company for 40 years. They have ended up outside their own stores and the workers never thought they would be doing that.

It must also be remembered that when this is over, even if they get what they are looking for, their jobs are gone. The workers were offered nothing by the company. The workers, Sinn Féin and other Opposition Members have lobbied the Government for changes to legislation since April and in previous Dáileanna. I spoke on this on a number of occasions in a previous Dáil with other Ministers. We were told that the Duffy Cahill report would be reviewed, would be looked at and would be implemented. I also received the letter from ICTU. There is no legislation to protect the workers here. It does not exist. As Deputy O'Reilly has said, the Minister of State can save himself from going through all the reviews. The protection does not exist and is simply not there.

A specific issue was raised with me by a striker on Monday about online sales. I was contacted by a postal worker who claimed that the number of packages being sent by post from Debenhams online stores remains very strong and consistent. The packages continue to flow into Ireland without interruption while the workers picket through rain, hail and sunshine to get their just settlements. I put it to the Minister of State that this is simply not acceptable and is not fair.

The Taoiseach met with some of the workers recently and, by all accounts, he had some very nice words to say to them. Will he now follow up this lip service by supporting the motion and by assuring the House that the recommendations of the Duffy Cahill report will be implemented? The time for platitudes and kind words has passed. The strike action has passed 160 days now. Action is needed as the workers have campaigned for 160 days already. It is simply not fair. There is no doubt that they are not going away if they do not get what they are entitled to.

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