South Dublin County Council announced yesterday that appropriate action had been taken following an investigation into allegations that a member of its staff attended a Turkish court on behalf of Gama industries without council permission.
In a statement yesterday, the council said it had completed its investigations on the attendance of an employee at a Turkish labour court hearing in Ankara, and had taken "appropriate action" in accordance with the staff grievance and disciplinary procedure.
The statement added that the attendance of this staff member was without the authorisation or knowledge of the council.
The investigation undertaken by the council began in May following complaints by campaigners for Gama workers alleging that a council employee had supported the company's claims that workers had not consistently worked long hours.
This followed proceedings in the Dáil last year in which Gama Construction was accused of exploiting its Turkish employees by paying less than the minimum wage and lodging workers' wages in Dutch bank accounts.
In a Turkish court transcript seen by The Irish Times, a quality control officer for South Dublin County Council, Paul Carpenter, said Gama workers did not work consistently long hours.
He said that prior to the intervention of Deputy Joe Higgins of the Socialist Party there had only been one case over a five-year period in which an employee claimed to have worked overtime.
Mr Carpenter told the court that prior to the intervention of Deputy Higgins there had been no problems on the Balgaddy site.
In a response to the conclusion of the council's investigation, Mr Higgins said last night that the council should now explain its findings and conclusions.
In addition, the council should indicate what it will do to "undo the damage this evidence has done".
"It is important that these Gama workers now get their just reward and money for the massive overtime worked."