David Cullinane (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 37:

In page 28, after line 37, to insert the following:

"Liability of a company officer or officers for a breach of employment law

29. Where a breach of employment law is committed by a body corporate or by a company officer or officers acting on behalf of a body corporate and is determined to have been so committed, with the consent, connivance or approval of, or to have been attributable to any neglect on the part of, a person or persons who, when the breach was committed was a company officer or officers of the body corporate, then that person or persons shall be personally liable for the breach committed.".

We discussed this amendment on Committee Stage. It is concerned with piercing the corporate veil and is a matter on which ICTU has lobbied all of us. It will enable the pursuit of directors of a company ensuring employees can seek recovery of payments and access to entitlements. We have heard of a number of situations like this in recent times. Connolly's Shoes is one example where a lack of legislation in this area was a problem. We are trying to plug a hole by proposing this amendment and I hope the Minister is in a position to accept it.