I propose to take Questions Nos. 159 and 169 together.
It would appear that there is considerable misunderstanding on the part of the IFI workers concerning the nature and extent of the waiver which they are being asked to sign in order to obtain payments from the ex gratia fund which is being provided by the two shareholders in the company. In light of this confusion and the concerns which the workers have as a result, the shareholders have agreed to a request from the unions that the workers should be allowed to collect interim payments on the basis of signing a letter which acknowledges receipt of the payments and accepts that a waiver in a form to be agreed will have to be signed in order to get any final payment from the fund. The shareholders have provided the trustee with funds which are sufficient to allow payments of up to €5000 per worker or three months pay if lower. It has also been agreed that there will be further discussions on the wording of the waiver following consultations by unions with their legal advisers.
Any workers for whom the current payment is expected to constitute their full entitlements from the fund may be asked to sign the current form of the waiver but will be entitled to substitute any revised version that may be agreed in due course. I hope all workers will now be in a position to accept the interim payments which have been available from the trustee since Monday, 18 November.