The Protection of Employment Act 1977 imposes an obligation on employers who are proposing collective redundancies to notify the Minister for Enterprise Trade and Employment, of the proposed collective redundancies. I can confirm that the notification regarding proposed collective redundancies at Debenhams was received by the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection, who at the time had responsibility for the Act, on the 14th of April, 2020.
The notification indicated that the company was insolvent and that a liquidator would be appointed.
On the 5th of May, 2020 a letter was received by the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection from the joint liquidator confirming his appointment as liquidator on the 30th of April, 2020, following on from his appointment as provisional liquidator on the 16th of April, 2020.
Responsibility for employment rights policy, redundancy/insolvency policy and the relevant associated legislation transferred to me in October 2020.