Maire Devine (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I refer to the closure last Friday of the Authentic Food Company in Dundalk. Senator Nash raised the issue during the Commencement debate earlier. Staff in the company were treated deplorably by management. Its parent company has its headquarters in Manchester. A total of 180 people were employed at the facility in Dundalk, most of whom had given a lifetime of service to the company, yet when they arrived at the factory on Friday, there was no work for them to do. My colleague, Deputy Adams, wrote to the managing director on 21 October following the making of representations to his office. Attempts were made to contact management, but there was no response until a letter arrived giving notice that liquidators had been appointed to the company. I am also aware of unsuccessful attempts by Unite to speak to management to gain clarity on its intentions. Staff should have access to the full redundancy arrangements contained in their contracts of employment, but they have no idea if the company will honour them. Its conduct to date does not inspire confidence. The staff are owed wages; some of them are owed a month's pay and shift premium payments, as well as their annual leave entitlements. Technically they are still employed, as they have not yet been issued with their P45 and cannot access social welfare benefits. The matter will be raised in the Dáil Chamber by Deputies Gerry Adams and Imelda Munster shortly. The Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation must secure the sale of the business. She must also take steps to ensure companies will not be able to use tactical liquidations to circumvent their responsibilities as the staff have been left in dire straits. It is not the first time we have seen this happen. It is reprehensible. Workers and their families have endured the injustice of companies pulling out of the country without any explanation being given and certainly without showing any care for the workers who had worked for them for a long time.

It is only a few days to the presidential election. I wish all of the candidates well, in particular, a certain female candidate from the rebel county of Cork. I alert citizens to the blasphemy referendum which is being held on the same day. The confusion caused is obvious when one canvasses on the doorsteps. We need a "Yes" vote to support freedom of religion, belief and speech, as well as the separation of church and State, to respect our international human rights obligations. People need to vote "Yes" to allow Irish media outlets to deal objectively with religious issues without having to self-censor. People need to vote "Yes" to support those facing persecution in Islamic states.