Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I sincerely thank Deputy Barry for bringing this very much needed Bill before the Dáil, the content of which is "to provide for preferential creditor status to employees in collective redundancy situations; to provide for recognition of a redundancy payments in a winding up; and to provide for related matters". What we saw happening in the case of the Debenhams workers was a disgrace. This week it will be 400 days since their campaign began. The way their case culminated and finished was a disgrace. For instance, in County Kerry, these hardworking, genuine people were forcibly taken from their place of peaceful protest after all of the days and nights they spent there. I have met them late at night in the cold, the damp and the rain and have heard at first hand about their position. I remind Members that the Debenhams workers were predominantly ladies who were owed €5,000, €7,000 or up to €20,000 of their own money. It is not the company's money, it is their money that they are owed. They were extremely respectful and peaceful in their protest but they would have the right to be very angry. If any person owed that much money to another individual, it would be a criminal matter and it is appalling those people were treated in that way. The boat has now sailed for that group of people. The Debenhams workers have an interest in this area and it is very good of them to be concerned about the rights of future workers. We need to ensure we or other politicians will not at some future date be discussing other workers who have badly wronged. I want to remember those people today and the vast amounts of money involved. It was their money for which they worked damned hard but never got. It is a disgrace. I thank Deputy Barry for his genuine efforts in this regard.

See this speech in context