Michael D'Arcy (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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299. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the amount spent by his Department and other Government agencies in helping workers of a company (details supplied) take their case to the European courts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11300/17]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The European Court of Justice (ECJ) delivered a judgement on 25 April 2013 arising from an investigation of complaints under Directive 2008/94/EC on the protection of employees in the event of the insolvency of their employer and the resultant contractual obligations that derive under the transposition of that Directive by the Irish Government.

The ECJ found in favour of the plaintiffs who were 10 former Waterford Crystal workers. The ECJ ruled that the Irish Government had failed to transpose the Directive in such a manner as to protect the rights of the plaintiffs to old-age benefits under a supplementary pension scheme established by their employer.

This case was taken by the plaintiffs against the Minister for Social and Family Affairs, and the Attorney General. It would not be normal practice for my Department to spend money to assist people in taking a case against the State. Therefore, in this case, I can confirm that my Department did not spend any money to assist the Waterford Crystal workers to take their case to the ECJ.

I do not have any information to confirm if other government agencies assisted the Waterford Crystal workers in taking their case to the European courts. If any such assistance was provided that would be a matter between the workers and the agency involved.

I hope that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.