Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE) | Oireachtas source

I want to raise the issue of the Debenhams workers. Many times in this Chamber and in the convention centre, the Taoiseach correctly described them as having been treated shoddily and shabbily by their former employer. Debenhams took advantage of the pandemic to walk off and leave its workers high and dry.

They waged an heroic struggle which ended after more than 400 days with an agreement that they would be able to access a training fund of €3 million. Incredibly, to this day not a single cent has been paid out of that training fund. The workers are faced with extensive red tape, with a very restrictive interpretation being applied by SOLAS to the rules around the disbursement of the fund. For example, a worker who wanted to do an online course and to buy an appropriate office chair rather than using a kitchen chair was told that a letter was required and money could not be paid out in advance. I ask the Taoiseach to instruct a Minister to meet the shop stewards. Will he intervene to make sure that the money is paid out so that workers get what they are owed, even if it is less than they deserve?

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