Taoiseach rejects workers' calls for reinstatement of Seán Quinn

QUINN GROUP workers seeking the reinstatement of Seán Quinn were told by Taoiseach Enda Kenny yesterday the situation had “gone beyond that”.

Mr Kenny, who was confronted by more than 100 protesters when he attended an energy symposium in Drumshanbo, Co Leitrim, yesterday, undertook to try to arrange a meeting between their representatives and Anglo Irish Bank chairman Alan Dukes.

On Thursday, the joint administrators of Quinn Insurance announced that the business was being sold to a group comprising US insurer Liberty Mutual and Anglo Irish Bank.

Members of the Cavan, Leitrim and Fermanagh community action group, which says there are fears in Border communities for 5,000 jobs in the group, told the Taoiseach staff did not have faith in the company’s new management.

Local parish priest Fr Gerry Comiskey, brother of Fine Gael Senator Michael Comiskey,  said they were still hopeful after meeting the Taoiseach that Mr Quinn would be given some role in the companies.

He said it was clear from Mr Kenny’s comments that Mr Quinn would not be returning as chief executive, but he believed the businessman had a vital role to play if the 5,000 jobs are to be protected.

“Seán Quinn has the goodwill of the group’s customers, many of whom have no faith in Anglo Irish Bank. Customers are already leaving and our worry is that some of the companies in the group will be dismantled, especially if they are sold off to Quinn competitors,” he said.

Mr Kenny said circumstances had changed greatly since he met Mr Quinn last year. Workers wanted Mr Quinn back in charge of the group “but I can give no such assurance”.

When the Taoiseach arrived at the Ramada hotel in Drumshanbo about 100 protesters  chanted “traitors” and “Quinn back”.

The action group handed the Taoiseach a letter saying the Border region had been “left to rot” for more than a century but had been lifted out of the depression by Mr Quinn.

Mr Kenny told the group the Government was powerless to compel people involved in issues such as the banking collapse to answer questions about their roles.

He said it would be seeking a mandate from the people to give the Oireachtas such powers.