Thousands of Quinn workers to protest

THOUSANDS of Quinn employees are due to march in Cavan and Dublin today to protest at their jobs being put at risk by the Financial Regulator’s “rash decision” to place the company into administration.

In Cavan, it’s planned that Quinn Insurance (QIL) and Quinn Group workers will join hands, forming a human link from Agriculture Minister Brendan Smith’s constituency office to the local social welfare office in what they describe as a “symbolic gesture”.

The employees have described the regulator “as rash in his decision and approach” and warned that 5,500 employees are “now facing an uncertain future”.

“We believe in particular the instruction for Quinn Insurance to cease writing business in the UK to be completely irrational. The role of the administrator was supposedly to ensure that the company operated for profit during the provisional period prior to the High Court hearing on April 12.

“However the ban from writing business in the UK is having the complete reverse effect and if not rescinded immediately will result in there being no business to go back to if and when the administration is lifted,” a spokesman said.

The employees said they are “of the understanding that QIL is profitable and has never had any issues paying debts”.

“We call on the Government now to show support to QIL employees in protecting our jobs, as it has done in the past with the withdrawal of multinationals. Surely a home-grown business should receive the same support, if not further support, from its Government?”

The Dublin march was due to leave from Buswell’s Hotel on Molesworth Street to the Taoiseach’s and Minister for Finance’s offices on Kildare Street, where a letter of protest will be handed in.

A group of Quinn employees also met with politicians from either side of the border last Friday and Saturday to voice their concerns.

The Regulator went to the High Court a week ago saying it had “serious concerns” about the financial position of Quinn Insurance as the company had extended guarantees of €448 million to other companies in the Quinn Group.