06/01/2012

Vita Cortex Finance's Larger Than Thought – Siptu

Workers' union Siptu have claimed the owner of the Vita Cortex plant, currently in a redundancy payment row with workers, has more assets that he previously claimed.

Siptu, who are representing the workers currently engaged in a sit-in protest at the plant in Cork, said information was emerged indicating that the owner of Vita Cortex has considerably more assets than has been previously acknowledged.

The union said reports on Thursday indicated Vita Cortex owner Jack Ronan has interests in over 20 other companies as well as a "substantial property portfolio", which includes a penthouse apartment in Cork, a stud farm in Tipperary and two retail parks.

“Jack Ronan has openly stated that he accepts his legal and moral obligation to pay his former employees at Vita Cortex their just redundancy payments but that he does not have the funds to meet this commitment. It is clear from today’s newspaper reports that this claim is very much open to question,” said SIPTU Organiser, Anne Egar.

The company has refused to pay workers at the plant any redundancy payments despite closing the plant some weeks ago.

The Union went on to say that among the companies that Ronan is listed as being currently, or recently, a director is Print Works Ltd, a business whose other major shareholders include state agency Enterprise Ireland, Renard Pig Farms and Web Circle Ltd.

Ronan’s other business interests include a Tipperary based bloodstock company, PIC Ireland Ltd (which assists in the genetic improvement of pigs) and a 50% share in two profitable crèches in Cork and Arklow.

(DW)

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