New Bill Published To Protect Workers From Tactical Insolvencies

Sinn Féin has called on all parties to work together to tackle the scandal of tactical insolvencies and to protect workers rights.

Spokesperson David Cullinane made the call following the publication of new legislation, the Protection of Employees (Collective Redundancies) Bill.

Deputy Cullinane said: "I have drafted a Bill that would give legislative support to key recommendations in the Duffy-Cahill report that was commissioned in the wake of the Clerys closure.

"The bill would provide protection for employees in collective redundancy situations in which the employer is insolvent.

"It would give power to the High Court to return assets which have been improperly transferred and give preferential creditor status to employees. It would also require that a 30-day consultation period is entered into in cases where it is known that a company’s liabilities are such as to trigger redundancies.

"Although the bill has been drafted and is ready to go I have not yet moved it.

"Instead I have sent a copy to all the major parties and groupings seeking support.

"I also sent a copy to Patricia King of ICTU asking that congress facilitate cross-party discussion with a view to making this an all-party bill.

"We are open to discussion and to working with others to perfect the legislation. I am publishing it today in order to move that discussion onwards."

(MH/CD)