Quinn Group Staff To Meet

Workers from the Quinn Insurance Group will find out later about plans for the failed company's future.

A briefing set for this afternoon comes after a meeting on Tuesday between politicians from both sides of the border, the financial regulator, and the administrator over concerns expressed by workers.

Employees have already taken part in two rallies on Tuesday in Dublin and Cavan, a week after the firm went into administration.

They are worried their jobs could go after a decision to ban the firm from writing new business in the UK and they want that decision reversed.

Ulster Unionist Assembly member for Fermanagh & South Tyrone, Tom Elliott was among those who met staff representatives on Friday over fears for the future of the large number of employees that are based at Enniskillen and Derrylin sites after the hasty decision of Irish authorities to place the company into provisional administration.

Tom said: "I share these concerns and indeed believe that this decision was not in the best interests of any of the relevant stakeholders, the many staff employed in Fermanagh, its customers or indeed the Irish Exchequer.

"Sir Reg Empey the Minister of Employment & Learning has been in communication with his Southern Counterpart, Batt O'Keefe on this serious crisis which could affect many of the staff in Fermanagh," he revealed.

"This decision does not help the insurance business carried out by the Quinn Group where customer confidence is essential and customers are concerned about their insurance cover and renewals are currently not being permitted to be renewed, which further damages the company.

"The big problem at present is the ban on the Quinn Group being able to trade for insurance in the UK which will be hugely damaging to the company and could eventually result in many job losses in Fermanagh.

"The company should be given time to negotiate a refinancing package and no obstacles should be put in place by the regulator which will damage one of the largest and most successful companies in Ireland," he said.

The MLA also attended a meeting with Minister Brendan Smith TD, and elected representatives from Fermanagh & South Tyrone and the Irish Republic and the financial administrators in Cavan yesterday, Tuesday.

He said that he urged the lifting of an insurance sales ban in the interim, as the next court case is not until the 12 April.

"As each day passes the future of many employees in Fermanagh is further jeopardised," he commented.

(BMcC/GK)