The Debenhams workers were outside Leinster House yesterday following 223 days of picketing for a fair redundancy. Last week, I emailed the Taoiseach's office inquiring if KPMG would be allowed to withdraw stock from the stores during the level 5 lockdown and the response was that it can do so. At a time when we are telling people that they cannot shop for clothes for their children, for newborns or for their families and we are asking them to stay at home, we are allowing KPMG to go into stores to remove stock, which means we are forcing the Debenhams workers to picket during the level 5 lockdown. I understand there is no easy-fix to this very complicated situation but the Taoiseach has the power to fix it. Christmas is coming. I appeal to the Taoiseach to step in and organise a resolution of this dispute.

This is a very difficult issue. I will be meeting with Mandate shortly and we will see if we can find a way to try to progress a resolution of this issue.