Micheál Martin: Debenhams workers 'badly let down' but Government cannot legally intervene

Former Debenhams workers stage a sit-in at the retailers' St Patrick's Street store in Cork city. Pic Valerie Conlon

Taoiseach Micheál Martin has urged KPMG to get back to the negotiating table, as workers from Debenhams Ireland vowed to escalate their ongoing campaign for a "decent redundancy package".

Mr Martin came under heavy fire from opposition TDs today who accused the Government of paying lip service to the workers, some of whom engaged in sit-ins in Patrick St in Cork and Henry St in Dublin, vowing not to give up the fight until they receive a "just package".