Labour minister ‘dismissive’ of former Clerys staff

Communications Minister Alex White has been accused of “patronising” former Clerys staff by claiming he could not bring in laws to stop capitalism after 460 people were thrown out of work.

The Labour TD was accused of being “dismissive”. He said the way Clerys staff were treated was “unacceptable” and said the Government was looking to see if changes to business law could be made, but said he could not “stop” capitalism.

“If there is a way to amend company law, then we will do that, but I don’t think anybody should imagine there is a law that we can introduce next week, in the Dail, that stops capitalism from operating the way it does, for there is no such law,” Mr White told RTÉ.