David Cullinane (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I must put to the Minister again the question of the 850 staff. I accept that when there is a transfer of assets to NAMA some staff may be re-employed by NAMA but in normal circumstances where a company takes over the workforce of an existing company, even in a liquidation situation, the transfer of undertakings applies for 12 months and their terms and conditions of employment are protected. The Minister appears to be saying that will not apply in this situation and that new contracts will be offered but how does that sit with this State's employment rights law where workers should be protected in terms of what they call the TUPE, the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations? I am mystified as to the reason the Minister cannot clarify that for the House.