Bríd Smith: Accuses KPMG of Breaching Debenhams Mediation Trust
Bríd Smith raised concerns about the Debenhams dispute, saying KPMG removed stock despite a commitment not to do so and urging action to restore trust. She called for those overseeing the mediation to insist KPMG desist from moving further stock ahead of continued talks.
Key facts
The mediation process in the Debenhams dispute has begun and further talks are due to take place with Kevin Foley acting as mediator. A commitment was reportedly given that workers would relax pickets and that KPMG would not attempt to remove stock during a standoff intended to allow mediation to proceed.
Stock removals reported
KPMG has confirmed to the media that stock was removed from Mahon and Cork, and from Newbridge and Tala. Bríd Smith said packers from KPMG were seen stacking stock in Henry Street, a development she said has deeply eroded trust between the parties.
Workers' reaction and loss of trust
Smith emphasised how the reported removal of stock has left workers feeling a lack of good faith and further disappointed them in the dispute. She described the actions as deeply damaging to the element of trust that had been created to facilitate negotiations.
Calls for intervention and mediation space
She asked that officials intervene to get the process back on track and to talk to KPMG, insisting they stop moving any more stock. Smith noted Kevin Foley's role in the mediation, thanked him for taking responsibility, and urged that space be given by all parties - including KPMG - to facilitate the mediation talks.
We publish thousands of recordings to make Irish politics transparent and resistant to manipulation. Spotted an error? Report it — together we are building a reliable archive of Irish politics.
A very welcome process which you helped to initiate has begun in the intervention in the Debenhams dispute and tomorrow they will be meeting in more talks with Kevin Foley as mediator but there's a serious problem has arisen and that is that in a commitment given the workers said they would relax the pickets on the stores and KPMG undertook not to attempt to remove the stock. They have now confirmed to the media that stock has been removed from Mahon and Cork, from Newbridge and from Tala. Yesterday there were packers from KPMG stacking up the stock in Henry Street and this has deeply eroded the element of trust. Commitment was given on both sides for a standoff until there could be, at least until Friday, until there could be an attempt at a resolution. Can you imagine how the workers feel in this sort of lack of good faith and the way they've been disappointed yet again by the actions of KPMG and will you do something to get that back on track, to restore the good faith and talk to KPMG and insist that they desist from moving any more stock? The mediation process was put in place and we worked on that with Kevin Foley taking responsibility and we thanked him for that and I said at the time in the Dáil air last week that space should be given by all, that includes KPMG, to facilitate the conduct of those mediation talks. Thank you.
Thank you for downloading 🙏
If you publish this material on social media, we would be very grateful if you tagged VideoParliament. It helps us reach more people and keep building a transparent archive of Irish politics.
