Ex-workers ask Coughlan to block Greencore funds

FORMER workers at Irish Sugar in Mallow yesterday called on Agriculture and Food Minister Mary Coughlan not to pay Greencore its share of the European Union sugar industry restructuring fund.

A delegation told the minister during a one-hour meeting in Kanturk, Co Cork, that workers are owed large sums of money by the company because it had failed to honour a Labour Court recommendation.

Spokesman Kieran Buckley said European Commission personnel told union officials in Brussels this week that restructuring funds can be withheld in such circumstances.

Ms Coughlan said she is constrained from making any formal announcement on the matter because of a High Court judicial review.

“But as a politician I am entitled to meet my own parliamentary colleagues and allow and afford them the opportunity to represent their people and outline where their concerns are at the moment,” said Ms Coughlan.

Regarding the issue of redundancy payments, she said everybody in the Government would be of the view that any Irish company which has a Labour Court decision and an ability to pay should adhere to that decision.

“It does not make any difference what company we are talking about. Although it is not mandatory, there has rarely been a situation where an Irish company which has an ability to pay did not adhere to the Labour Court decision,” she said.

Greeencore insists the redundancy payments relating to the former Irish Sugar workers are full and fair, consistent with the Labour Court recommendation and in compliance with a company-union agreement.

Ms Coughlan, also met with the workers at the request of Michael Moynihan, TD.

She later visited the strongholds of Fianna Fáil’s two other constituency deputies, Donal Moynihan in Macroom and Minister of State Batt O’Keeffe.