Is the Taoiseach not even a little embarrassed by the proposals published on the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment website last Wednesday regarding the rights of workers in liquidation situations? On the issue of honouring collective redundancy agreements in liquidation situations, the Government says "No". On the issue of prioritising workers for payment in liquidation situations, the Government says "No". On the issue of making employers pay a serious penalty if they refuse to comply with soon-to-be-extended consultation provisions, the Government again says "No". With one Deputy Varadkar-like shimmy, the Government has buried half of the Cahill Duffy proposals, ignored the key issues raised by the Debenhams dispute and sent a clear message to workers who face job losses that they are on their own. It is interesting that this report was published on a Department website in a week the Dáil was in recess. This begs the question as to whether the Taoiseach is embarrassed or ashamed of the Government's proposals.

That is absolutely not the case. The Tánaiste has published these proposals and there will be continuing engagement with the social partners on the matter. There has already been engagement. We want to advance, modernise and improve the situation as it applies to redundancies and situations arising out of liquidations. We also want an improved situation more generally to protect employees and in the context of employment protection law.