Seanad debates

Wednesday, 14 May 2003

Redundancy Payments Bill, 2003: Committee and Remaining Stages.

 

12:30 pm

Photo of Michael AhernMichael Ahern (Cork East, Fianna Fail)

I am not in a position to accept the amendment, having regard to legal advice from the Office of the Attorney General. First, as the payment of a statutory redundancy lump sum is a legal requirement on employers, it could not be imposed on them with retrospective effect. Employers are entitled to due notice of intention to legally require them to pay enhanced rates. Second, the new redundancy Act has to be brought into effect by ministerial order, after enactment by the Oireachtas. This cannot be made retrospective. It should also be noted that, in discussions on the new programme, it was accepted by the parties that retrospection would not be introduced in the Bill.

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