A social welfare tribunal will take place next week for "locked-out" workers at the ADM chemical plant in Co Cork who have been refused unemployment benefit for almost three months.
The Tánaiste told the Dáil yesterday that the Minister for Social and Family Affairs, Ms Coughlan, had arranged an early tribunal hearing on June 4th for the 200 workers, whose application for benefit was turned down by social welfare appeals officers.
Ms Harney, who had been "directly involved" in the issue, was responding to calls by two TDs for her to intervene in the dispute in their Cork North Central constituency.
The "lock-out" at the Ringaskiddy plant arises from a dispute over changes in work practices, including increased flexibility.
Mr Bernard Allen of Fine Gael said there had been "complete silence" on the issue. People were being "pauperised and victimised by the actions of a major employer, and the Tánaiste and Department of Social Welfare are leaving them on the scrap heap", he claimed.
Ms Kathleen Lynch of Labour sought the adjournment of the Dáil for a debate on the issue and asked Ms Harney to "instruct the Minister for Social and Family Affairs to pay the ADM workers their social welfare entitlements".
Some ADM employees watched from the public gallery as Ms Harney explained that the dispute was "a very complex matter with a different emphasis and approach being taken by the different unions involved".
The Tánaiste, who is Minister for Employment, said the company was examining its operations globally and "I understand that there will be a new proposal coming forward at some point".
