Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

This issue has been ongoing for approximately six months. That is six months of workers not knowing their income from one week to another and struggling from one week to another. These are workers with families and with mortgages or rent to pay. They have been under immense pressure in the past few months. They have been told one thing by their local Intreo offices and another thing at work. Aer Lingus has actively blocked employees at every turn from accessing their social welfare entitlements. These are entitlements in respect of which workers pay PRSI in order that they can access assistance when they need to. That is what social protection is supposed to be about. The actions of Aer Lingus, as we have seen in the correspondence we have received, has been absolutely appalling towards employees in this State. The company needs to be taken to task. The Minister has responsibility and she needs to do this.

When did the Minister begin engagement, if she has done so? If there were talks between Aer Lingus and the Department or the Minister, how did they come about? What was the outcome of those talks?

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