I wish to raise an issue in respect of transfer of undertakings, TUPE, legislation, specifically the EU directive of 1977, and Irish employment law in the context of a dispute that is happening in SK biotek in Swords. Some 150 workers in this pharmaceutical plant have been laid off as and from today. The employer has set down a precondition of entering into talks that it will accept any recommendation from the WRC or Labour Court as binding. Does the Taoiseach agree that this is an illegal request? Will he urge the company and unions to enter into talks through the industrial relations apparatus of the State without any preconditions? These are high-end jobs. This company and its predecessor are long established in the Swords area, with which the Taoiseach will be very familiar. It is of grave concern that a multinational company can set aside the 1977 TUPE directive and employment legislation in Ireland. I ask the Taoiseach to request of his colleague, the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation, Deputy Humphreys, to intervene as a matter of urgency.

I am very familiar with Swords but not with this particular dispute. I would always encourage employers to engage with staff and their representatives. As I mentioned in reply to another Deputy earlier, I am not familiar with the dispute so I am reluctant to comment on it. I will have it checked out.