Former Waterford Crystal workers in Dáil protest over pensions

Around 100 former Waterford Crystal workers will stage a protest outside the Dáil this lunchtime.

The former workers are angry over delays they are currently facing in having their pensions reimbursed.

The European Court of Justice ruled in April, that under EU law the State had an obligation to protect the pension of workers in the event of a company becoming insolvent.

However the Government subsequently referred the case to the High Court.

Workers' spokesman Tom Hogan told WLRFM there is no reason why the matter can't be settled out of court.

"It's a matter of political will by the Government to do that," he said.

"We're going up there today to impress upon the politicians, and particularly the government TDs, that this is what needs to be done."

Sinn Féin spokesperson on Workers’ Rights, Senator David Cullinane, said it was "disgraceful" that workers felt they had to campaign outside Leinster House.

“Why the Government is dragging its feet on this issue is simply beyond me,"

Senator Cullinane said.

"The implications of the European Court of Justice Judgement are clear.

“The Court found that Ireland is in serious breach of its obligations and that it had failed under Article 8 of the Directive whereby employees are entitled to receive 50% of their pension benefits out of any accrued pension scheme for which they had contributed.

“The failure since 2007 by successive Irish governments to insert this EU ruling into Irish law is anti-worker."

However Taoiseach Enda Kenny today told the Dáil he cannot get involved in the dispute, now that the case has been referred back to the High Court.