Paul Murphy: Demands Minister Act on Debenhams Training Fund Delay
Paul Murphy raised the plight of Debenhams workers who remain unable to access a promised 3 million euro training fund. He said the workers, after a heroic 400-day struggle, are being blocked by red tape and restrictive interpretations of Solis rules and urged ministerial intervention and a meeting with shop stewards.
Unpaid training fund
The speech emphasised that despite an agreement reached after over 400 days, not a single cent has been paid out of the 3 million euro training fund meant for Debenhams workers.
Context and employer conduct
Murphy recalled that the Taoiseach had described the workers as being treated shoddily and shabbily by their employer, noting that the company effectively used the pandemic to walk off and leave workers high and dry.
Administrative barriers
The deputy gave concrete examples of the obstacles facing workers - a very restrictive interpretation of Solis rules, extensive red tape, demands for letters to buy an office chair for an online course, and refusals to pay money in advance - which prevent access to training supports.
Appeal to the minister and next steps
He asked whether a minister would meet with shop stewards and intervene to ensure the money is paid out so workers get what they are owed, even if it is less than they deserve. He also said he will revert to the union that represented the workers and will follow up on the matter.
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I want to raise the issue of the Debenhams workers, who the Taoiseach many times in this chamber and in the Convention Centre described them correctly as being treated shoddily and shabbily by their employer. Effectively, Debenhams took advantage of the pandemic to walk off and to leave the workers high and dry. They waged an heroic struggle, which ended after over 400 days with an agreement that they would be able to access a training fund of 3 million euros. Incredibly, to this day, not a single cent has been paid out of that training fund. The workers are faced with extensive red tape, with a very restrictive interpretation being applied to Solis, to the rules in terms of the disbursement of the fund. I will give some examples. A worker tries to buy an appropriate office chair so they can do an online course, instead of using a kitchen chair, they are told you need a letter, they refuse to pay money in advance, and so on. The question is whether you will get a minister to meet with the shop stewards and will you intervene to ensure the money is paid out so the workers get what they are owed, even if it is less than what they deserve. I will revert back to the union that has been representing the workers, and that has not been raised with me, so I will follow that up. Thank you. Thank you, sir. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
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