Fidelma Healy Eames (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I listened to the testimonies of Clerys workers and franchise holders this morning as I came to Dublin. The question that struck me was how the Minister is helping Clerys workers and those affected by the announcement of the sudden closure. Is the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Deputy Richard Bruton, providing leadership on this issue? Two types of help are needed here. The first is immediate help and moral support. It is only by listening that one figures out what one can do. It is very easy to say one cannot do anything and that the law takes over. However, the second issue is that we need a wider debate on this, as we need to determine what protections are needed not just for people's jobs but for franchise holders also. A great deal of money is held in trust that was due to be paid yesterday. Because of the announcement on Friday, the money was not paid into the relevant bank accounts. Time is of the essence and I hope the Government is standing in solidarity on this. I would like to know if it is.

My sympathies go out to the families of the young people whose lives were lost today. This is a terrible tragedy. No parent wants to get that announcement. I happen to have a son who is around the same age as those involved. He is attending many 21st birthday parties at the moment. When one is talking about a situation of great fun, for it to be matched by a tragedy on this scale is awful. I commend the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Department on the strong early intervention, which is wise.

I want to flag a question I have for the Minister for Education and Skills because the examinations come to a closure this week. My daughter, and many others, finished their junior certificate examination today but I do not know if many Members are aware of the number of independent supervisors and rooms being made available to students. We believe they are for those with learning difficulties but they are now being made available to students suffering from examination related stress. I was with three other mothers last week and among the four of us we had six teenagers sitting examinations.