Protesters highlight Waterford Crystal worker pensions

Up to 200 people highlighted the plight of former Waterford Crystal workers concerned about their pensions when Taoiseach Enda Kenny arrived in Waterford city for a number of engagements today.

Mr Kenny spoke to some of the protesters who were carrying Unite trade union banners and said he had sympathy for them.

“I understand the frustration of workers who in some cases worked for 40 years,” he said.

"Obviously there is a High Court case listed for the 3rd of December and I can't comment about what might come from that. That case is listed following a European case where there was clarification required on a number of matters," he said.

Members of the Waterford Crystal pension scheme have brought a case against the State for failing to protect the pension interests of employees in the event of the insolvency of an employer and a pension scheme.

The case came before the Commercial Court in Ireland in 2011, which then referred the case to the European Court of Justice.

That court ruled that the State was in serious breach of the EU insolvency directive which protects employees in the event of employer insolvency.

Mr Kenny was speaking before he addressed Young Fine Gael’s national conference in Waterford.