Call for Ahern to intervene in sugar dispute

TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern has been asked to intervene in the nine-month-old dispute between Greencore and former Irish Sugar workers over redundancy payments.

A delegation representing the workers met with Mr Ahern when he visited Kanturk, Co Cork, and sought his involvement.

Some 145 former Irish sugar workers say they are owed €3.4 million in severance payments by Greencore, following the closure of Mallow beet factory last May, because the company has not honoured a Labour Court ruling.

Greeencore insists, however, that the redundancy package is consistent with the Labour Court recommendation. It says the average payout is in excess of €150,000 and that a number of individuals are getting over €200,000.

Kieran Buckley, spokesman for the former workers, said they were very satisfied with the meeting and were particularly glad the Taoiseach was familiar with the facts of the case.

He said Mr Ahern told the delegation he could not understand how any company, especially one like Greencore, would ignore a Labour Court recommendation, and how the amount of severance money involved should be an obstacle to the issue being resolved.

Mr Buckley said the Taoiseach undertook to speak with relevant Ministers to see if some way could be found to resolving the dispute.

“We were very pleased from the point of view that he was up to speed with the issue and that he was willing to meet with us,” he said.

The meeting was arranged by Michael Moynihan, TD, during the Taoiseach’s one-day visit to the Cork North West constituency last Friday.

Mr Ahern also visited the heartlands of Minister of State Batt O’Keeffe, TD, in Ballincollig, and Donal Moynihan, TD, in Macroom.