Paul Gavan (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I commend the last speaker and agree with everything she said. It is important that we have a debate on foreign affairs. Many things are happening in Europe, not just in Poland but also in Hungary and Bulgaria and, regrettably, with sister parties of Fine Gael in the latter two. I also agree with what the Senator said about the United States. Let us hope that there is a change of President at the end of today or, please God, in the next couple of days. At the same time, we must acknowledge that it was not a good day for the Democratic Party in America and perhaps reflect on the limits of liberalism as a political philosophy. Unless politicians tackle wealth inequality, which is not a liberal but a socialist philosophy, we see what can happen and where politics can slide, unfortunately.

I wish to raise the issue of Debenhams, and I hope I will not be the only Member raising it today. There was a very constructive cross-party meeting yesterday with shop stewards which was organised by Deputy Mick Barry. The workers in Debenhams are on their 210th day of strike action during a pandemic. They are standing in the wind and the freezing conditions facing us this week. They have been left out there without the intervention that is desperately required from the Government. I must be honest that I got boiling mad yesterday at a meeting of the enterprise and employment committee, of which I am a member. We heard about the Duffy Cahill report which is now four and a half years old. It has been sitting gathering dust for four and a half years. It would have prevented what has happened to the Debenhams workers.

There has been all sorts of emergency legislation, much of it necessary. Why have we not had emergency legislation for working people? Why have we not had emergency legislation to deal with strategic insolvencies? That is what we are talking about here. We should not have to remember what happened to the Clerys workers and realise that it is four and a half years later. This is political because both Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael have failed in this respect. They had the opportunity in the last Government to do something about it and they chose not to. We cannot leave these workers in the lurch. KPMG has said it is prepared to walk away at the end of December. The assets that the workers are trying to defend with a 24-hour picket, day after day, are rapidly reducing in value.

There must be an effective Government intervention. It has to happen, and I call on all Members of the Seanad to play their role. In fact, I believe we should have a special debate on the Debenhams workers. Every Member, regardless of political party, should call on the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste to intervene directly with the company. It is clear that the back channels have not worked. We cannot allow these workers to be left in the lurch again, standing in the cold until Christmas.That is what they are facing at the moment. Then they will head into a second calendar year. Surely to God, all of us, as a political body, are better than that. Let us ensure justice for the Debenhams workers.