Bord na Móna recycling sale
Brian Stanley says the proposed sale of Bord na Móna's recycling and waste businesses should be stopped because it would move public assets into private hands and threaten workers' conditions. The Tánaiste acknowledges local concern in Offaly and Laois and says the Minister will engage directly.
The proposed sale of Bord na Móna's recycling and waste management businesses, including the facility at Kyletalesha, Portlaoise, to a private company must be halted. If it goes ahead, it will mean the transfer of a large recycling and waste recovery business, which will go from public ownership into the hands of a private investor. That will create a whole new situation for the workforce and customers. The workforce is supposed to be receiving guarantees but the Tánaiste and I both know that terms and conditions cannot be maintained a year, two years or three years into the future by a private company. The proposed sale is to KWD Recycling, an unlimited company that does not have to publish annual accounts. SIPTU has called for a halt because the sale would be counter to economic and environmental best practice. The workers will be balloted for strike action if the sale goes ahead. I am asking the Tánaiste to intervene and to speak directly with the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, who is the sole shareholder on behalf of the public who own it, to intervene and halt the sale of this strategic State asset.
Comment on this
I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue. I have heard of the concern the issue is causing in his community and in County Offaly.