Waterford Crystal ruling: High Court to determine payments

Waterford Crystal workers and the State could return to the High Court in the coming months to thrash out future pension payments to 1,700 former employees following a European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruling yesterday.

That decision stressed that the Government must protect the pension rights of former Waterford Crystal workers, meaning it is likely the State will have to find the money to cover some or all of what they would have been owed if the firm and its pension scheme had not gone bust.

Yesterday the Unite trade union, while celebrating the ruling, said it was open to meeting with the Government, but a court date is likely to determine the level of protection for workers’ pension entitlements and thereby the amount they will be paid. Solicitors for the workers said a High Court application will be lodged in the coming weeks.