Bernard Allen
Ceist:56 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Labour the reason a person (details supplied) in Cork has not been paid the amount awarded to him by the Employment Appeals Tribunal.
Written Answers. - Payment of Award.
The employee concerned was awarded sums under the Unfair Dismissals Act, 1977, and the Minimum Notice and Terms of Employment Act, 1973. As the employer failed to pay the awards, the employee referred the matter to my Department in accordance with the provisions of these Acts whereby the Minister for Labour is empowered to institute proceedings for the recovery of such sums. It was found that the employer company had been struck from the Register of Companies in January, 1989 and legal searches revealed no assets in its ownership.
Legal advice was sought on the question of instituting proceedings against the employer. The advice received recommended against exercising the options which are available to me in law in these circumstances to enforce payment. Unfortunately, the prospects of recovery do not appear to be optimistic. However, my Department are currently examining the situation further and will be in contact with the employee's solicitor in the very near future.