asked the Minister for Health, in relation to the making redundant of 147 employees of the Irish Hospital Sweepstake Trust (1940) Ltd., where the closure was caused by the establishment of the national lottery and the staff, many of whom had long service, received only the minimum statutory payment whereas the Labour Court recommended a payment of two weeks pay per year of service to each employee, if he will consent to providing the moneys necessary to honour the Labour Court recommendations, either from departmental funds or from the national lottery; if, on actuarial basis, he will give the sum which would be sufficient to restore the value of pensions which were lost by employees who were in an unfunded scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Irish Hospital Sweepstake Trust.
114.
I do not accept that the establishment of the national lottery contributed in any way to the closure of Hospitals Trust (1940) Limited.
This company is a private company and responsibility for making any payment to former employees rests solely with the company. Consequently it would not be possible to provide Exchequer or national lottery funds to finance approaches on the lines suggested by the Deputy.
A number of proposals have been submitted to improve the position of former employees of this private company and these are being considered at present.