Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 13 October 2020
17. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his plans to meet with striking workers (details supplied) who he has acknowledged have been treated poorly; and the actions he plans to take regarding unfair treatment of workers in Ireland. [23761/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraAlong with my colleagues, the Taoiseach and Ministers Troy and English, I have met with Debenhams employees and their union, Mandate, on a number of occasions to hear their views and concerns about the liquidation of Debenhams Ireland.
A number of suggestions have been made as to how the Government might intervene. However, the Government cannot intervene with a liquidator, who has a statutory duty to realise assets and distribute to creditors in accordance with the law. Equally the Government has no statutory power to intervene in a court-supervised liquidation, that is subject to oversight of the High Court.
Any discussions entered into voluntarily by the workers and employers with one of the State’s industrial relations bodies, the WRC or the Labour Court, are confidential to the parties and I, as Minister, have no role in, or knowledge of, these discussions.
