asked the Minister for Labour when redundancy/minimum notice payments will be made to the former employees of a company (details supplied) in County Kildare; the date by which such employees should receive settlement; if there are any unforeseen difficulties in dealing with the case; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Written Answers. - Minimum Notice Payments.
19.
The position in regard to redundancy payments is that on various dates during April and May 1989, 42 of the employees of the company concerned submitted claims to my Department for payment of redundancy lump sums from the Redundancy and Employers' Insolvency Fund. It transpired, however, that the amounts of entitlements of all the employees were in dispute with the company and that appeals had been lodged with the Employment Appeals Tribunal. Accordingly, payments could not be made by my Department pending the outcome of the appeals before the tribunal.
I understand that the appeals were heard by the tribunal on 30 May 1989, and that a decision covering all the appeals is expected to be issued this week. When the tribunal decision becomes available, each employee should complete the appropriate form of application for payment of redundancy lump sum from the fund (Form RP 14) and forward it directly to the redundancy payments section of my Department.
My Department have not received any application for payment of minimum notice entitlements from any employee of the firm concerned. I understand, however, that these entitlements are also covered in the employees' appeals to the Employment Appeals Tribunal. On the basis of the tribunal decision, any employee found to have an entitlement to a minimum notice award should complete Form IP2 and forward it to the receiver of the company concerned. The receiver, if he cannot meet the payments due, should in turn apply to the insolvency payments section of my Department for funds to discharge the employees' awards.
The application forms mentioned will be sent to the employees with notice of the tribunal decision. My Department will deal with completed applications and issue the payments due with a minimum of delay.