asked the Minister for Transport and Power if Great Northern Railway workers who were transferred to Dundalk Engineering Works and who have now retired and are at present receiving a payment each week similar to that which they would have received if they were Great Northern Railway pensioners, will have their pensions adjusted to the same level as Coras Iompair Éireann employees, when the scheme which he stated is now in preparation is announced.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Pensions of former Dundalk G.N.R. Employees.
57.
Matters relating to superannuation pensions payable to former G.N.R. workers who were taken over by Dundalk Engineering Works Ltd. are proper to that company and not to C.I.E. Consequently the amending superannuation scheme recently submitted to me by C.I.E. does not affect those workers.
Could the Minister not reconsider that situation inasmuch as these are a small group of old men who found themselves transferred to the Dundalk Engineering Works and dispensed with at 65 years of age? The actual total is 14 men only. Could they not be included?
They cannot be included because once having been employed by the Dundalk Engineering Works, they come under a pension scheme which is entirely a matter for the Dundalk Engineering Works and comes simply within the ambit of their Articles of Association over which I have no control.
Is the Minister aware that, in fact, most of them never physically worked for the Dundalk Engineering Works? They received stand-off pay until such time as they reached 65 years of age and were then paid-off.