Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank all three Deputies for submitting this timely matter. I underline from the get-go to those Deputies who have spoken outside this Chamber and repeatedly in it on this issue that I very much hope we can work as collectively as possible. First and foremost, I am concerned about the Iceland workers who are facing into this serious period of instability. I share their concerns and fears. I hope we can work together as best as possible to allay those concerns and fears and, indeed, to save jobs, where possible. The Deputies will appreciate that this is a live legal issue. As a result, I am slightly limited in what I can say. I will answer the questions in as fulsome a way as possible over the next three and a half minutes and give a little more background, if that is agreeable. We can then deal with anything else it is possible to comment on by means of replies to supplementary questions.

I am aware from media reports that an interim examiner has been appointed by the High Court to Metron Stores, which operates the Iceland stores in Ireland. Examinership is the main corporate recovery process for companies in Ireland. The court-supervised process is available to insolvent companies that have a reasonable prospect of survival. An examiner’s primary duty is to rescue a company. Their role in the process is to assess a company’s viability, attempt to secure investment, and formulate proposals for restructuring while a company continues to trade during a protection period. This period of up to 100 days provides some breathing space. An examinership is a court-supervised process. It is important, therefore, not to prejudge the outcome. It would be inappropriate for me to comment on this specific examinership case. I hope that is appreciated by the Deputies.

I am also aware of reports that employees of Iceland Ireland have experienced problems in getting their correct and full pay in recent weeks and that issues have been raised regarding the working conditions in certain stores. These issues have been raised by Deputies O'Reilly, Bríd Smith, Joan Collins and Cian O'Callaghan in the House in the past month. However, I want to emphasise that Ireland has a robust suite of employment rights legislation in place to protect and support workers, including in relation to the payment of wages, minimum notice and consultation where collective redundancies are contemplated by an employer. I expect, as does the Government, all employers to comply with their obligations in this regard. Where employees believe their employment rights have been breached, they have the right to refer complaints to the Workplace Relations Commission, WRC, for an adjudication and possible redress. The WRC is independent in the performance of its functions and l cannot comment on matters which may have been referred to it as this point.

One the specific questions posed by Deputy Cian O'Callaghan related to closures, when I met with Iceland executives, that matter was not raised. In addition, issues relating to food safety had not arisen at that stage. They were raised subsequent to the meeting.

Deputy Joan Collins asked if we raised concerns. As I stated, during that meeting I repeated the issues that had been raised in the Dáil by her, Deputies Cian O'Callaghan, O'Reilly and Bríd Smith and others. I underlined the Government's expectation that all employers should meet their legal and statutory requirements as per the law of the land.

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