Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

11. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the status of a dispute at a company (details supplied). [5219/21]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I extend my sympathies to the workers in Debenhams who have lost their jobs. I fully appreciate how difficult the situation is for those involved and their families.

While the Government cannot interfere with the High Court-overseen liquidation process, it has always sought to ensure that the concerns of workers are heard, and that the State’s welfare, employment and training services are responding to the needs of the ex-Debenhams workers.

The State has always guaranteed statutory employment rights to the workers, including statutory redundancy. This right has been honoured by the State at a cost of over €13m. 

The talks facilitated by the Chair of the Labour Court, Kevin Foley, concluded in December. In recognition of the exceptional circumstances of this case, as reflected in Kevin Foley’s report, the Government said it was willing to allocate a fund of €3 million to support career guidance, training, education and business start-ups for the former Debenham workers.

On 13 January, the ex-Debenhams workers voted to reject the proposal for a €3m Training Fund. I understand that the ex-Debenhams workers are disappointed that their expectations cannot be met. There is also no legal scope for the Government to use the Social Insurance Fund to supplement or ‘top-up’ redundancy payments to honour a collective agreement between an employer and its employees. 

At this stage, it appears that all avenues have been explored and exhausted and the Government awaits the outcome of the High Court process.