TD accuses firm of exploiting workers

VITA CORTEX was accused of exploiting workers and asset-stripping during an emergency Dáil debate into the dispute.

Labour TD Ciarán Lynch accused boss Jack Ronan of letting the firm engage in practices which amounted to “skullduggery”, even though they were legal, as he demanded a reform of corporate law.

“We must ensure that the laws are changed to ensure we do not see the type of skullduggery engaged in by his company to renege on payments to his employees.”

Fine Gael TD Jerry Buttimer hit out at the treatment of the 32 sacked workers and the way the company was organised.

“They have been exploited,” he said. “There has been a restructuring of the company, asset stripping and a changing of the whole game plan regarding the directors and shareholders in what is, to me, a group of related companies in the same business.”

Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin demanded the Government take a more active role. “The manner in which the workers have been treated is absolutely unacceptable and the overwhelming responsibility lies with the management of the company to meet its obligations to the workers. It is important that there is an interdepartmental response from the Government.”

Junior Enterprise Minister Sean Sherlock attacked the company’s attitude to workers and indicated an investigation into it may be launched.

“We know that the workers had been offered a paltry sum of €1,500 to leave the premises over the Christmas period and they rightly rejected this offer, claiming that the company would use their absence to remove important machinery and stock.

“If there is a mechanism by which a query can be made to the Director of Corporate Enforcement about the company structure, then I actively encourage people to make such a query,” he said.