‘No minimum notice’ for Clerys staff

Clerys workers were not given the minimum notice they were entitled to before losing their jobs, Tánaiste Joan Burton told TDs.

The Social Protection Minister said that those involved in the Clerys shutdown have been ashamed and disgraced by their behaviour.

“The people who are shamed and disgraced by this situation are those who took part in the arrangements to do this and not the Clerys workers,” Ms Burton said.

Ms Burton said company law regarding minimum notice periods to workers had not been adhered to.

“I consider it imperative that workers are treated properly at all times. It is totally unsatisfactory, inappropriate and unacceptable that entities involved in this transaction did not respect this concept.

“My department and the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation will examine whether all aspects of the relevant legislation have been complied with, whether that legislation needs to be strengthened and if so how,” Ms Burton said.

Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams said while nothing illegal had taken place there were “conflicts of interest” surrounding the Clerys deal. He called for an overhaul of the law to ensure that such a situation did not arise again.

Fianna Fáil’s Dara Calleary said events had been months in the planning.

”I would ask the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement be asked to look at the sequence of events that led to the scenario that unfolded at 5pm last Friday. In particular, the office should look at the events in the preceding 24 hours, where a company was sold and OCS Operations was put into liquidation with no regard for employees,” Mr Calleary said.