asked the Minister for Local Government if he is aware of the fact that former employees of Dublin Health Authority, including those who work at St. Ita's Hospital, Portrane, Donabate, have not benefited by recent increases in pensions of former State employees; and if he will take steps to see that such retired workers will be given treatment equal to that accorded to ex-State employees.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dublin Health Authority Pensioners.
30.
I am not so aware. The pensions of Dublin Health Authority pensioners, and of local authority pensioners generally, are adjusted in line with periodic increases in other public service pensions under regulations made by the Minister for Finance. My function in the matter is limited to the sanctioning of pension increases which are payable to local authority pensioners in accordance with these regulations. I understand that all former employees of the health authority have been paid any pension increases to which they are entitled.
Does the Minister not feel that the amount of pension being paid to the people whom I refer to in the question is not adequate and, in fact, has not been kept in line with the level of pensions payable to other former State employees who are pensioners at the moment?
I understand that it is.
My information is to the contrary.
31.
asked the Minister for Local Government if he is aware of the grievance of an ex-employee of Dublin Health Authority (details supplied) who considers that he has not been provided with his full pension entitlements; and what steps he will take to rectify this situation.
I am not so aware. I understand that the man in question is still an employee of Dublin Health Authority and as far as the health authority are aware, no question of his retiring has arisen.
Is the Minister aware that the question did not relate to an existing pensioner but to the calculation of the amount which will be due to this man when eventually he does retire and does he not appreciate that the question I put down referred to the lack of consideration being given to a certain period in this man's service in the calculation of the pension which he will eventually receive?
The question refers to an ex-employee. The man is not an ex-employee; he is an employee.
It does not refer to an ex-employee in the sense of his being out of employment.
If he is still an employee, he cannot be an ex-employee.
He is a person who transferred from one public employment to another.
The question is:
To ask the Minister for Local Government if he is aware of the grievance of an ex-employee...
This man is not an ex-employee; he is an employee.
Is it not a fact that the name and details of the case were provided?
Yes, and the man is still working.
Was the Minister not in a position to check?
Yes. He is not an ex-employee.
Then, can the Minister not answer the question?
A man does not become an ex-employee until he leaves employment.
The Minister is indulging in a little bit of trickery here.
Raise it on the Adjournment.
I will raise Deputy MacEntee on the Adjournment, if he does not stop interrupting. In the light of the fact that the Minister knew the case to which I was referring, can he not indicate the proper reply to the question I put down? It seems to me that in the course of transit the prefix "ex" has crept in. It certainly was not my intention to use that expression.
He cannot get a pension until he ceases to be an employee.
It is just dodging the issue.