John Gilroy (Labour)

I wish the Cathaoirleach and everybody else a happy new year. Senator Marie Moloney's contribution in support of the Vita Cortex workers in Cork was very welcome and I add my voice to it. However, I draw the attention of the House to the plight of the Cork-based Bowen construction workers. Some 92 workers have been left without any final payments or redundancy payments because NAMA refused to facilitate them. In June of last year a liquidator was appointed and during the application process the High Court judge recommended that the Bowen Construction workers be paid what is owed to them. However, within days of the liquidator being appointed, NAMA moved to appoint a receiver to the same company and the workers have now been left without their entitlements. Those are just two cases where NAMA seems to be operating in a manner I cannot understand. I wonder how many more workers are caught in the legal limbo land NAMA has created. It is important that we ask the Leader to invite the Minister, Deputy Bruton, or the Minister for Finance, whoever has sole responsibility for the operation of NAMA - it is difficult to know even that much information - to the House for a discussion on this issue. It appears many workers are being left in this legal limbo land but when it comes to dealing with other sectors of Irish society, we are quick to facilitate them.