Examiner Appointed to Debenhams Retail Ireland – A Worrying Development says Crowe

Dublin South West TD Seán Crowe has voiced his concern at the news
that the High Court has recently appointed an Interim Examiner to
Debenhams Retail (Ireland).

Deputy Seán Crowe said.

“Debenhams currently employs 1,415 people and with appointment of an
Interim Examiner those jobs are clearly at risk. Every effort must be
made to ensure that as many of  jobs as possible are protected and
saved.

“Despite all the previous government’s talk of recovery we are still
seeing downward pressures in the retail sector – even in more upmarket stores like Debenhams.

“Debenhams have 11 stores right across the state and this is worst
possible last thing that workers and their families in many towns and
cities want to hear.

“Debenhams have large retail store in the Square Tallaght and I have
talked to some of its staff who are all extremely worried about its
future and their employment.

“As one worker explained to me ‘it’s not as if there is a huge amount
of other options outside the low subsistence wages currently on offer
in retail and in other sectors.’

“Aside from the impact on workers,their families and the local
economy they are also anchor tenants in many shopping centres right
across the state. I am also mindful of the very real and
knock-on-consequences of a potential closure or a scaling down of any
of their retail facilities

“I am calling on the new Minister for Jobs, Mary Mitchell O’Connor,
to take a ‘hands on’ approach to this developing situation, making
every effort to minimise job losses and ensure that this issue will be
a priority for her and her Department.” ENDS