Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I am referring to the people who have raised it with me, if the Deputy wants me to give a straight answer.

I acknowledge the enormous impact the appointment of the receivers has had on the employees. Deputy Fitzmaurice has recognised the work of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and the work of the Department of Social Protection, in ensuring that the employees are being looked after in that regard.

Deputy Fitzmaurice raised specifically the knock-on impact on subcontractors. I am aware the clarification was issued by the receiver to Roadbridge staff on Tuesday of last week, following engagement with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment. The receiver confirmed to employees that there is no statutory restriction on employees taking up additional employment during the statutory redundancy consultation period in circumstances where they are not expected to attend the workplace. Provided they do not resign from their current employment, there should be no obstacle to retaining their statutory redundancy entitlements.

As a Government we are examining the range of projects that Roadbridge has been involved in from a public capital works point of view, and in relation to the national development plan. There is, for example, a housing projects in Moyross, Limerick. There is a road project from Coonagh to Knockalisheen and Roadbridge had been appointed as the contractors for the N5 Ballaghaderreen to Scramoge road project, where a site compound had been set up and some subcontractors had started to mobilise.

I understand that the Oweninny wind farm is a 50:50 joint venture between the ESB and Bord na Móna. Given that receivers have now been appointed, that is now a regulated process that must take its course under the Companies Acts. I have no doubt but that the contractors concerned will obtain their own independent advice but we would, of course, encourage engagement and discussions. We recognise that the appointment of receivers can have seriously adverse effects on contractors, many of whom are operating in an environment of rising costs and quite low margins. We want to see all of these contractors continue in business. The receivership is a statutory process that is regulated by law. The receivers are now in place and must continue with their work over the period ahead. Certainly, as a Government, we would encourage discussions and engagement between all of the relevant parties to see if a resolution could be identified.

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