Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. I accept the extraordinary challenges that are facing the Debenhams workers and the fact that they have been campaigning and on strike for so long in the pursuit of the realisation of their collective agreement. The Tánaiste and others have been seeking to see what we can do with the trade unions to try to assist in some alleviation of the situation for the workers concerned.

I take the overall point made by Deputy Lahart. I have been consistent in all my meetings with workers that we have to work within frameworks and law. We cannot pretend that we can do things that cannot be done. Motions in themselves do not change the de facto reality. Over time, there is need for change of legislation in terms of Duffy Cahill and other aspects of company law that may facilitate companies avoiding their obligations. There is also a need for collective agreements to have parity with others in terms of liquidation processes. That is important as well. We should never create situations which can give people an impression that a motion, if passed, solves all their problems. Of course it does not. It is far more challenging and complex than that.

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