Thomas Byrne (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Minister refers to his colleagues who are trade union officials and to the transfer of undertakings regulations and the protection of employees. Employees are protected not just for the sale of shares of a company but also the transfer of an undertaking. An undertaking could be a part of a company or an asset that somebody works on which is moved to another company to generate income elsewhere. The employee can move with that asset if that is the business or undertaking that is moving. It is not just confined to the sale of shares. There is an absolute distinction here, and it is not covered. Is the issue Senator Walsh raised, that these assets will, by the nature of the project, have to be secured by way of mortgages, the real reason that the Minister is not prepared to cover it?

We have raised a very serious point that has not been dismissed by anybody on the Government side. The lawyers on that side have spoken up previously and have spoken well. The officials have worked really hard today and I compliment them on that, but they should check this point.