A Waterford TD has been welcoming the news that a pension deal for former workers of Waterford Crystal is close to being complete.

The factory in Waterford closed in 2009 with the loss of around 700 jobs - and almost 1,700 former employees were told they would only get 18 to 28% of their pension entitlements.

Trade union Unite has been fighting to ensure a deal since the closure.

Following months of intensive discussions and hearings at the Labour Relations Commission, a deal is reportedly about to be recommended.

The Government are expected to sign off on the new deal - which the Departments of Social Expenditure and Social Protection are believed to have been involved in finalising - next week. 

Labour TD for Waterford, Ciara Conway, says she believes the deal will be a welcome agreement:

Last year, Unite took a landmark case on the issue to the European Court of Justice and won.

The 10 workers took the case against the State to the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg for its failure to establish a pension protection system.

In a ruling, the European Court said that Ireland has not fulfilled its obligations under an EU Directive designed to protect the pensions of workers in the event of the insolvency of their employer.

Originally posted at 10.07am