Senior ministers under pressure over Target Express issue

Three of the most senior members of the Cabinet are under pressure to explain what they did to try and save nearly 400 jobs.

Seamus McBrien, the owner of logistics and delivery firm Target Express, has said he made contact with the ministers last week.

The company has now ceased trading and blames the Revenue Commissioners for rejectng a plan to pay off the company's debt by the end of next month.

Some of Target's former workers in Cork are staging a sit-in at a depot in Little Island.

Mr McBrien said he had contacted Jobs Minister Richard Bruton, Finance Minister Michael Noonan and Transport Minister Leo Varadkar to make representations, but claimed they would not get involved.

Fianna Fáil Senator Daragh O'Brien said the Government must explain what, if anything, it did to help the haulage firm.

Senator O'Brien said: "I would like to know from the ministers who are saying that they are all about creating and protecting jobs as to why they felt they did not need to make any representations at all or could not assist Target Express in any way, shape or form to try to save the 390 jobs.

"Questions do need to be answered by Minister Varadkar, Minister Noonan and Minister Richard Bruton."

Mr Varadkar said his office did get in touch with the Revenue Commissioners, but was unable to pass on the concerns in the absence of the company waiving confidentiality, which it has not done.

“All taxpayers have an obligation to pay their taxes,” he said.

“I remain hopeful that some or all of the jobs can be rescued.”

Mr Bruton’s office said the firm was told as it was not an Enterprise Ireland or IDA company the most appropriate step for it was to contact a named person in Revenue or the Finance Department.

Elsewhere the Department of Finance said it referred Target Express back to the Revenue Commissioners as is protocol because, as an independent body, it has responsibility for collecting revenue.