Dublin South West TD Seán Crowe has said that new information emerging about Dublin’s iconic store Clerys highlights the need for new legislation for workers’ rights stating that the law needs to be strengthened against tactical insolvencies as a matter of urgency.

Deputy Seán Crowe said:

“Reports from the the High Court have suggested that D2 Private owner Deirdre Foley was directly involved in the events that immediately preceded the collective redundancies of 467 workers at Clerys Department Store.

“This was a blatant tactical insolvency and was a grave injustice to the workers involved.

“The outcry over those redundancies led to the publication of the Cahill/Duffy report which recommended legislative change. Some unscrupulous employers seem hell bent on unpicking or finding loop holes in employment legislation.

“Sinn Féin have drafted a bill that implements many of the report’s recommendations and have forwarded a hard copy to all the party spokespersons, leaders and Independents seeking their support.

“We also sent a copy to Patricia King of ICTU suggesting that Congress facilitate a discussion with a view to making it an inclusive all-party bill.”

Crowe continued:

“Following the Clerys case there is an emerging need and urgency for agreed legislation to safeguard workers, their jobs, and employment conditions.

“We need to introduce safeguards that will ensure that companies cannot remove assets so as to deprive workers of their redundancies.

“Sinn Fein proposals would also include the strengthening of the 30 day minimum notice for collective redundancies”

ENDS