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

I discussed the matter earlier with Deputy Gino Kenny. The situation has never been simple in terms of resolving the dispute since the liquidation occurred, as I have acknowledged and been honest about from the beginning. People may have been given expectations during this dispute that could never be realised. Simplistic solutions were offered which never had any prospect of being realised. The liquidation process, in itself, was never going to replace the legitimate redundancy entitlements of the workers.

The company treated the workers very shabbily. I accept that saying that is not enough for the workers. There has been no lobby by anybody against any resolution of this so let us not create another conspiracy. I have had general discussions with the head of ICTU and I have met workers on this, and there has been ongoing consultations with Ministers. The Mandate trade union has done everything it possibly can and it has not been easy for the union either.

With regard to the fund the Deputy mentioned and the increase in PRSI, that again would have far-reaching consequences as this cost would be on every employer. Whether they are doing well or not in the middle of Covid-19, they would still be charged that.

The more important point on that is that what we are essentially proposing here, if we are to go down that route, is that one would be getting others to bail out the shoddy behaviour of some parties. That is a general point we cannot ignore. Once this is done once, it has been done a second and a third time, and let us be under no illusion that are creating a precedent then. Whatever mechanism is arrived that, we all better be clear if it has far-reaching consequences and could tip the balance the wrong way. Employers should meet their obligations and the law should be changed to ensure that collective agreements are given higher priority in liquidations. That should certainly happen. I will discuss this with colleagues across Government again with a view to seeing if there is any way we can develop a resolution of this and a way of bringing it to a conclusion.

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