Companies ‘should be required to attend Labour Court’

Independent Senator Joe O'Toole has called for legislation making it an offence for companies to refuse to attend the Labour Court.

The call follows the attitude adopted by Irish Ferries last week when it refused to attend the court to discuss its controversial lay-off plan.

The company eventually agreed to attend talks, but Mr O'Toole said the law urgently needed to be changed in order to prevent firms like Irish Ferries from exploiting worker.