Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
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46. To ask the Minister for Trade, Enterprise and Employment if he has discussed proposals by unions (detail supplied) to establish a fund to safeguard the redundancy entitlements of workers in the event of a liquidation. [27550/20]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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I can confirm that Minister of State Damien English, who has responsibility for Business, Employment and Retail met with ICTU in August where they outlined proposals concerning the treatment of collective agreements.

Minister English responded to ICTU on 10th September confirming that he would consider the matter with myself and Minister Troy with a view to exploring the proposal and any other related issues in a Forum which would ensure participation by senior stakeholders and members of the Government.

Unions have proposed the need for a ring-fenced private sector levied insolvency fund which would honour and pay out on previously agreed collective agreements.

Ministers of State Damien English and Robert Troy, in Private Members’ Business in the Dáil on 16th September, both affirmed the Government’s commitment to detailed and serious consideration of the proposals and committed to involving worker and employer representatives in that process.

They will be meeting the social partners as soon as a date can be agreed with them, to discuss the matters put forward, including the proposed fund. The issues are complex and we continue to work with all stakeholders to advance matters.