asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he is aware of the grave injustice imposed on retired bus drivers by reason of the fact that when they reach the age of 70 their retirement allowances are considerably reduced, and, if so, if he will ask C.I.E. to ensure that when the proposed amended superannuation scheme is being framed this injustice will be rectified.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Bus Drivers' Retirement Allowances.
As the Deputy will no doubt have learned from the official statement issued following my intervention over the week-end in the dispute about pensions between C.I.E. and the I.T.G.W.U., it has now been agreed that the unions will be entitled to propose the basis of an amended pensions scheme to C.I.E. and that C.I.E. will then, in accordance with the direction already given by me to the board, submit an amending scheme for my approval.
I have no doubt but that the unions and C.I.E. in framing any amending pension scheme will bear in mind the considerations mentioned by the Deputy.
Arising out of the Minister's reply I want to say I appreciate very much what happened recently in connection with this dispute—the part the Minister himself played in it. This particular matter was brought to my notice——
Does the Deputy intend asking a supplementary question?
I am raising my supplementary question on this point. In view of the fact that a number of retired bus drivers fear their particular claim may not have received the consideration it deserved, they have asked me to inquire from the Minister if he is aware that many of these drivers who retired after giving 35 to 37 years' exemplary service to C.I.E. were getting pensions of 37/6 a week if married, plus a national health allowance of 36/- a week but that when they reached the age of 70 the pensions were reduced from 37/6 a week to 6/- and the national health allowance of 36/- ceased, so that the total allowance left to those men at the age of 70 was 30/- a week—a drop from £3 13s. 6d. a week to 30/-. Will the Minister ensure that in the new scheme now being contemplated, due regard will be taken of the circumstances in the cases concerned?
Broadly speaking, the facts are as stated by the Deputy. It is because of the fact that the pension scheme was so unsatisfactory that the Government, at my request, directed C.I.E. to submit proposals for the provision of reasonable pension conditions. It was because of the fact that the union concerned and the other unions associated with them felt that the scheme was not being submitted with sufficient promptitude that last week's difficulties arose. I think however that the settlement of the matter in regard to the amended pensions scheme will see the light of day before any abnormal period of time is allowed to elapse.
Why should the Deputy single out the bus drivers? That position obtains so far as many grades employed by C.I.E. are concerned.
If the Deputy wishes to put a supplementary question——
I have a question. I want to ask the Minister whether the case submitted on behalf of the bus drivers by Deputy McQuillan could not be submitted with equal force on behalf of plate-layers and workers in various other categories employed by C.I.E. and is it not a fact that their pensions are subject to the same reductions when they leave after over 70 years?
Why did the Deputy not open his mouth about them before?
I was already aware of that fact and if I had not been aware of it, it was certainly brought to my notice during 16 hours of constant negotiation last week-end. I can assure the Deputy that, while Deputy McQuillan mentions only bus drivers, the claim made by the organisations concerned affects approximately 12,000 to 14,000 workers many of whom are not bus drivers but are attached to other grades.