I want to acknowledge the significant personal investment of time and effort by the Taoiseach and his office in respect of the plight of Debenhams workers. As the Taoiseach is aware, I raised this issue at the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party meeting recently. These workers have been picketing for in excess of 170 days during cold nights and mornings that are getting cooler and wetter. These are predominantly or almost exclusively women. I know they have the Taoiseach's admiration and my admiration. Does the Taoiseach share my concern over the manipulation of these vulnerable workers with Private Members' motions in this House that are portrayed as potential laws establishing funds for workers who might be laid off unjustly? Such motions would penalise good employers and have absolutely no benefit for Debenhams workers. The implementation of the Duffy Cahill report, aspects of which I strongly support, would not be retrospective and would not benefit Debenhams workers. This amounts to the manipulation and misleading of these workers.

Time is up, Deputy.

What steps are left to the State to provide assistance to these workers? Does the Taoiseach support the call to consumers not to purchase Debenhams goods online in support of the plight of these workers and the efforts they have made to secure their rights?

I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. I accept the extraordinary challenges that are facing the Debenhams workers and the fact that they have been campaigning and on strike for so long in the pursuit of the realisation of their collective agreement. The Tánaiste and others have been seeking to see what we can do with the trade unions to try to assist in some alleviation of the situation for the workers concerned.

I take the overall point made by Deputy Lahart. I have been consistent in all my meetings with workers that we have to work within frameworks and law. We cannot pretend that we can do things that cannot be done. Motions in themselves do not change the de facto reality. Over time, there is a need for change in the legislation in terms of Duffy Cahill and other aspects of company law that may facilitate companies avoiding their obligations. There is also a need for collective agreements to have parity with others in terms of liquidation processes. That is important as well. We should never create situations which can give people an impression that a motion, if passed, solves all their problems. Of course it does not. It is far more challenging and complex than that.