I move amendment No. 4: In page 25, between lines 27 and 28, to insert the following: “Further provision with respect to employees 558S. A rescue plan for an eligible company shall not contain provision that provides for either or both of the following: (a) a reduction in the number of employees after the date from which the rescue plan would come into effect under section 558ZB or 558ZE, as the case may be, unless this has been done by agreement with employees and their recognised trade union, save in the case of …

I asked the Minister of State to confirm that the rescue plan cannot include a reduction of the workforce without its agreement. His answer is that it can and that is disappointing. The description of how redundancies work is welcome but that is probably known to most of the Deputies who are here. The purpose of my amendment is to ensure the rescue plan cannot result in a reduction in the number of employees or lead to compulsory rather than voluntary redundancies. If the Minister of State had been in a position to…

I move amendment No. 5: In page 27, lines 4 and 5, to delete "49 days" and substitute "31 days". This amendment is tabled to ensure the process does exactly what I believe is the intention, that is, to deliver a quicker and cheaper alternative to administration. We spoke about this at the Joint Committee on Enterprise, Trade and Employment and the Minister of State, Deputy English, indicated the process may not be quicker than the current administration process. I note the Minister of State, Deputy Troy, said in so…

I move amendment No. 6: In page 27, between lines 10 and 11, to insert the following: “(6A) A meeting under this section— (a) need not be held at a physical venue but may be held wholly or partly by the use of electronic communications technology as long as all members and creditors have a reasonable opportunity to participate in the meeting, (b) a process adviser may provide for participation in a meeting by providing or facilitating, for that purpose, the use of electronic communications technology, including a m…

On the basis of the clarification provided, I will withdraw the amendment.

I move amendment No. 9: In page 34, line 27, to delete “21 days” and substitute “15 days”. May I check the time?

That is fine. This amendment was included to ensure-----

That is great. I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle. The amendment seeks to ensure the process does what it is intended to do, which is to be quicker than existing arrangements. When the Minister of State and I spoke in the committee meeting, he indicated that the process may not be quicker. That is a disappointment but we should try our best to do whatever we can to encourage and speed up the process without making it unworkable. I am interested to hear the Minister of State's views on this. As I have said, if it is …

I move amendment No. 10: In page 34, line 30, to delete “21 days” and substitute “15 days”.

I move amendment No. 11: In page 34, line 34, to delete “21 days” and substitute “15 days”.

I move amendment No. 12: In page 54, between lines 7 and 8, to insert the following: “(4A) Where a process adviser does not make use of the services of the staff and facilities of the eligible company to which the process adviser has been appointed, the process adviser shall give a written reasoning for this decision.”. Section 558ZY covers the remuneration costs and expenses of the process adviser. Section 558ZY(4) covers the process adviser in so far as is reasonably possible to make use of the services of the st…

Thank you, a Cheann Comhairle, for the opportunity to make a short contribution to this important debate. I echo the comments expressed by previous speakers. I hardly know a woman among my acquaintances or people I work with who has not been in some way the victim of a sexual assault. It does not necessarily have to involve restraint or penetration but it is that common that it is terrifying when we think about it. Regrettably, as a younger woman I might have brushed it off, whether it was a man on a bus wanting to…

I thank an Teachta Cullinane for sharing his time with me this morning. I pay tribute to those workers who have been on the front line right throughout this pandemic. While we were all busy having a series of L’Oréal moments in the convention centre, people were putting themselves in harm's way. They were going into Covid wards. They were working in retail. They were making sure that we were fed and kept safe. There are people who have worked right throughout this pandemic, including the staff here in the Houses, w…

I am grateful for the opportunity to make a contribution today on this important legislation. We understand that the issues which arose for the WRC following the Zalewski case and the subsequent Supreme Court judgment are serious and require fairly swift rectification. For that reason, in early April I drafted legislation which sought to accommodate the judgment of the Supreme Court and to rectify the issues it posed for the operation of the WRC. I thank the Minister of State, Deputy English, and his officials for …

I think it is safe to say there is more or less unified agreement that there has long been a need for the examinership-lite model, and that is what the small company administrative rescue process Bill 2021 attempts to deliver. The Bill, while long overdue, is welcome, and I will work constructively and thoroughly to ensure there are no undue delays in getting it implemented. There are many welcome aspects of the Bill, which outlines the small company administrative rescue process. However, the success or failure of…

I will briefly raise the issue of communions and confirmations that have been cancelled. One of the Deputies speaking earlier alluded to the appropriateness or otherwise of compensation for the church. I am not certain if I agree with him on that but there are parents who have put themselves to a considerable amount of expense. They have bought clothes, as is necessary for the ceremony for their children. They will not be able to get their money back. As we know, children grow and will not be able to use those clot…

I thank the Deputies for bringing forward this important legislation. It gives us a good opportunity to have a discussion about both pensions in general and a specific group of former workers. As has been pointed out, they might be former workers but they most definitely are not former voters. I have some experience of dealing with occupational pension schemes from my previous employment. It always struck me that it is very tough to get people interested in a pension scheme, in being trustees or being active in it,…

Stobart Air has let 480 workers go. It is absolutely devastating news for them and their families; the worst possible news for them at the worst possible time. The Minister does not have a plan for our aviation sector and we are starting to see the impact of it now. I have asked the Minister specifically about the former Stobart Air workers before but I do so again. Will he please liaise with his colleague in the Department of Social Protection and put in place one person who can help to guide these workers through…

The Tánaiste is being disrespectful.

The Supreme Court has overturned the High Court decision to strike down the sectoral employment order, SEO, for the building sector. I very much welcome that. I am glad that the State took that challenge. I am aware, however, of local authorities using contractors who are paying significantly below the rate set out in the SEO. I have seen payslips from workers who are being paid €10.50 per hour for doing work the SEO states should be paid at a rate of €19.37 per hour. That means that after deductions, workers are c…