asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether his attention has been directed to the proposals of the Great Southern Railways Company for the promotion of a pensions scheme applicable to their employees; whether he is aware that, under statute, the company is required to formulate a pensions scheme for employees in consultation with the trade unions representing the employees; whether, in fact, the unions have been consulted with regard to the company's published scheme; and, if not, whether he will take steps to secure that the interests of the employees concerned will be protected as was contemplated in the Railways Act, and if he will indicate the nature of any steps he proposes to take.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Great Southern Railways Pensions Scheme.
I am aware that the Great Southern Railways Company have formulated certain proposals for a pension scheme applicable to their wages staffs, but I have no information as to the interests which may have been consulted in its preparation. I presume that the statute referred to by the Deputy is Section 11 of the Railways Act, 1933, the legal requirements of which have already been met by the Great Southern Railways Company when they submitted a superannuation scheme to the Railway Tribunal in December, 1933. The scheme was rejected by the tribunal on grounds that it did not meet the reasonable requirements of the employees, and the statute referred to contained no provision to meet such a situation. As the Deputy is already aware, the pending transport legislation is designed to remedy this position and to enforce, if necessary, a suitable superannuation scheme for the benefit of the employees of the company.
Arising out of the Minister's reply; does he seriously contend that the proposed application of the Act in so far as the pensions scheme is concerned, was put to the representatives of the people concerned, or that the pensions actually were paid?
The legal obligations under the Act were discharged.
Does the Minister say that the right of the representatives of the trade unions to be consulted was complied with, or that, in fact, they have not been consulted?
I certainly did not give any such information in any reply I have made.
Has the Minister been consulted in regard to the present scheme, which involves something approaching £250,000?
I have been informed that such a scheme is about to be put into operation, and I have received a copy of the scheme.