The Nuremore Hotel and Country Club in Carrickmacross has been an important part of the south Monaghan economy and its regional tourism generation for several decades. The hotel was purchased in 2018 by Mr. Kai Dai, who is one of the biggest cash for visa brokers that has benefited from the immigrant investor programme.

Serious issues have arisen at the hotel. On numerous occasions employees at the company were not paid for several weeks. On 1 January last most of the staff were placed on a temporary 12-week layoff, ostensibly for renovation works to be carried out but there has been no evidence of any works commencing. Since then, the staff that have remained have again not received their pay. The leisure centre, which was supposed to remain operational is now closed because the company did not pay its energy bills. There are widespread community concerns regarding the future use of the hotel and its associated facilities.

My question and my request for the Minister is that considering the immigrant investment programme was supposed to bring a benefit to the State, but in this case could actually result in a large layoff, will the Minister bring this matter to the attention of relevant ministerial colleagues and also to State agencies such as Revenue, the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement, the Workplace Relations Commission and the Health and Safety Authority?

I know the hotel. I have been in Monaghan many times over the past number of years. If the Deputy provides the details to us we can certainly look into it for him. I am not sure of the background but I will say that where workers are due pay they should be paid. This is very clear. If threats of layoffs that have been made, the State agencies will get involved to support workers. Thankfully, we have an economy where there are many vacancies. I am not sure of the specifics in the context of the Nuremore Hotel and County Club, but if the Deputy provides the details I will certainly look into it.