The head of the labour inspectorate with the Department of Enterprise and Employment has described as "entirely without substance" a claim by a Turkish lawyer, on behalf of the Turkish Gama construction company, that the lawyer "understood" Gama workers gave interviews about their pay and conditions after accepting "inducements" from the inspectorate.
Mr Edward Nolan also said that "possible fraud" was among the issues raised during the course of the investigation into Gama's employment affairs in Ireland. Mr Nolan was responding to claims in an affidavit by Mr Dogan Yagiz of Ankara, on behalf of the Turkish GAMA company, which has brought proceedings to continue an order preventing publication of the inspectorate's report into GAMA's employment affairs in Ireland.
High Court Judge Mr Peter Kelly was told the investigation was commenced after Gama Construction Ireland Ltd was accused of underpaying and overworking Turkish workers on Irish sites.
In his affidavit, Mr Yagiz said he understood inducements were offered and accepted by workers. However, Mr Nolan in his replying affidavit said Mr Yagiz's allegation about inducements was "entirely without substance".
Issues raised during the course of the investigation included issues regarding breaches of employees' rights, competition law, public procurement law, taxation law, corporate goverance law and possible fraud, he said. Mr Nolan said GAMA's complaints were without merit and the Minister was "extremely concerned" that the report be published at the earliest opportunity.
During the course of the investigation, GAMA Construction Ireland Ltd had admitted to a number of serious breaches of employment rights, he added.
The Turkish Gama company is seeking leave to bring judicial review proceedings against the Minister and Mr Nolan and currently have a temporary order to prevent the release of a Department report of an investigation into GAMA's employment affairs in Ireland.
Mr Justice Kelly adjourned until tomorrow the further hearing of the application for an interlocutory injunction.