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Dáil
‹ Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation

Metropolitan Films WRC ruling

Summary

Deputy Boyd Barrett raised a damning WRC ruling alleging blacklisting and forged contracts by Metropolitan Films, linked to large public funding. The Minister said WRC decisions should be respected and promised to raise the case with the enterprise minister and seek a meeting if documentation is sent.

On New Year's Day, the Workplace Relations Commission, WRC, issued an absolutely damning ruling against Metropolitan Films, which is one of the biggest film producing companies, with tens of millions of euro of public money having been issued to it over the years. Awards in the region of hundreds of thousands of euro have been made to film crew workers. This ruling revealed systematic blacklisting, breaches of employment legislation and forging of employment contracts to cover up the failure to honour the workplace and employment rights of workers. What is infuriating is that for four years I, on behalf of the blacklisted film workers, have asked the Government to stamp out this abuse, which is endemic across a film industry that is receiving €100 million annually, at least. I ask the Government to stamp out this abuse and to respond to the request from the blacklisted workers to meet the relevant Ministers to discuss the implications of the case.

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Any WRC ruling should be respected, unquestionably. I am not familiar with this specific case, but I will certainly raise it directly with the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment. If the Deputy will submit the documentation to me, I will certainly seek from the Minister a meeting with the Deputy and the impacted workers, if that is at all possible.

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