I congratulate the new Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality and wish her well in her job.

It has been almost one year since the iconic Clerys store on our national main street was unceremoniously shut down and its hard working and loyal staff and many small businesses that operated therein were thrown out onto the streets. In one of the worst examples of corporate greed in our recent history, approximately 500 staff and dozens of small businesses were left with nothing and had to rely entirely on the State's insolvency schemes at significant cost to the State, PRSI contributors and taxpayers.

I support the Clerys workers in their fight for justice and their demand that the type of corporate behaviour and corporate greed that they fell victim to should not be visited on any other Irish worker or small business. Does the Government agree with Mr. Kevin Duffy and Ms Nessa Cahill, the authors of a recent report, on the need to change employment law to protect workers better who are caught in insolvencies like the one at Clerys, which left people out on the street with all of their entitlements gone? Will the Government support the Clerys workers in their search for justice and fair treatment? Will the simple and moderate changes in employment law that were recommended in the Duffy-Cahill report be put into law and implemented by the Government and when will that happen?

As the Deputy is aware, a report was published two weeks ago relating to the issues that she has raised. The whole country saw what happened to the Clerys workers and was concerned about it. That report has identified changes that could be made to the law. It will be considered under the Government's legislative programme. The Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation is assessing the report to determine whether legislative change is necessary to deal with the issues that the Deputy outlined.

Last week after the Labour Party left office, IBEC strongly refuted the need to change employment law. Does the Government agree with the position taken by the workers or IBEC? This is a simple question. On whose side does the Government stand? After five years of reform to employment and collective bargaining laws inspired by the Labour Party in office, I am horrified to see that the further enhancement of employment legislation in respect of workers barely gets a mention in the programme for Government. If there is a chapter or two or three pages that I have missed, could someone point them out to me? They are not there. As a society, we have problems around-----

The Labour Party was in government for the past five years.

We always used collective bargaining.

One speaker, please.

Is Deputy Bríd Smith blind?

Tax reliefs and Ministers' pensions.

-----protecting people in arranged insolvencies, such as that involving Clerys, that appear to be within the framework of common law but manage to turn workers and businesses out onto the street and offer them no protection. The programme for Government is silent on this important issue.

It is a bit like what Labour is doing to Deputy Kelly.

Who did nothing either.

Could the Tánaiste tell us about it, please?

This issue is currently being examined following the publication of the report that Deputy Burton cited. Clearly, if legislation is required to give the kinds of protection required by situations such as that at Clerys, it will be considered by the Government and will be-----

It is not in the programme for Government.

That does not exclude it from being considered. The report will be examined. If legislation is required, it can be introduced.