Paul Murphy challenges Taoiseach over Castolin Eutectic redundancy row
Paul Murphy questioned the Taoiseach in the Dáil about the ongoing strike at Castolin Eutectic, where eight workers face redundancy and have been on strike for three days with a further five-day strike planned. He pressed whether the company, owned by Paragon Partners, will implement a Labour Court recommendation for additional redundancy pay.
Paul Murphy lays out the case: eight workers made redundant, strike action already under way, and a Labour Court recommendation for one and a half weeks per year of service on top of statutory redundancy. He notes the company agreed to go to the Labour Court but has since refused to implement that recommendation.
Murphy highlights the scale: Castolin Eutectic reports over 300 million euros in annual sales and is owned by venture capital firm Paragon Partners, which manages about 2.4 billion euros. He points out that the extra cost to the company to honour the award would be minimal, roughly 30,000 euros, and asks whether a wealthy owner should at least accept the Labour Court recommendation.
The Taoiseach replies that he does not have the specifics of the Labour Court award on hand but restates the principle that where workers engage with the Labour Court or LRC, acceptance and implementation of awards should follow. Murphy's intervention frames the dispute as a test of adherence to Labour Court outcomes and basic fairness for workers.
Immediate facts and demand
Paul Murphy lays out the case: eight workers made redundant, strike action already under way, and a Labour Court recommendation for one and a half weeks per year of service on top of statutory redundancy. He notes the company agreed to go to the Labour Court but has since refused to implement that recommendation.
Company finances and fairness
Murphy highlights the scale: Castolin Eutectic reports over 300 million euros in annual sales and is owned by venture capital firm Paragon Partners, which manages about 2.4 billion euros. He points out that the extra cost to the company to honour the award would be minimal, roughly 30,000 euros, and asks whether a wealthy owner should at least accept the Labour Court recommendation.
Political response and process
The Taoiseach replies that he does not have the specifics of the Labour Court award on hand but restates the principle that where workers engage with the Labour Court or LRC, acceptance and implementation of awards should follow. Murphy's intervention frames the dispute as a test of adherence to Labour Court outcomes and basic fairness for workers.
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Transcript
Thanks, Ciann Comhairle. Taoiseach, workers at Castellan Utectic have been out on strike for three days now They're due to go on strike again next week for five days This is about eight workers being made redundant The company agreed to go to the Labour Court But has since refused to implement the Labour Court's recommendation of one and a half weeks per year of service on top of statutory redundancy The cost to the company of this is minimal. It would be 30,000 euros or so This is a company that is generating over 300 million euros a year annually in sales It is owned by a venture capitalist company, Paragon Partners, who manage about 2.4 billion euros So do you agree that this very, very wealthy company should at the very least abide by the recommendation of the Labour Court And pay the workers a half-decent redundancy? First of all, thank you for raising the issue. I don't have the specifics of the Labour Court recommendation But where people participate and engage with the Labour Court or with the LRC The acceptance and implementation of awards should follow engagement and participation, and it should be