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Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 17 May 1977

Vol. 299 No. 7

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Aer Rianta Staff.

16.

asked the Minister for the Public Service if he is aware that staff of Aer Rianta who were transferred from the Department of Transport and Power at Shannon Airport in June, 1973, are not credited for Army service in the computation of pensions which they had prior to their transfer from the public service; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Civil servants who transferred from the Department of Transport and Power to Aer Rianta on or after 1st June, 1973, will, in fact, be credited with their pensionable service in the Defence Forces provided

(i) a pension is not already payable in respect of the Defence Force service;

(ii) an appropriate refund is made in respect of any lump sum payment made under the Defence Force schemes;

(iii) the Defence Force service was not terminated by dismissal.

This arrangement will come into force when the terms of the revised scheme for transferring service for superannuation purposes between public sector organisations are finalised.

Does the Parliamentary Secretary realise that, when these men were transferred from the Department of Transport and Power to Aer Rianta, they were put at an enormous disadvantage compared with those who defied the Department at the time and did not transfer and who have retained all the rights which the people who went to Aer Rianta lost? In these circumstances, would be rectify the situation and take into account that similar staff in Aer Lingus, of which there are a large number, are at the same disadvantage?

The report of the working party on civil service superannuation in 1973 recommended that civil servants serving in a pensionable capacity after the 1st June, 1973, be allowed to reckon previous service for superannuation purposes. Pensionable service is given to the Garda, Defence Forces and primary teachers providing——

Does the Parliamentary Secretary realise that in this case the 200 people concerned were transferred at the end of June, 1973, with retrospective effect to 1st April, 1973? This means that they were not public servants on the relevant date, 1st June, 1973, and have lost considerable benefits as a result of co-operating with the Department while the minority who did not co-operate or transfer have retained those benefits?

These people understood the position at the time——

They did not. Will the Parliamentary Secretary take it from me that they did not understand it? They were not told that. They were told that if they did not transfer to Aer Rianta they would be made redundant. It was under that pressure that they did so. They were not informed that they would lose a substantial portion of their pension rights.

In view of what the Deputy has said, I shall certainly have a look at the matter.

Can the Parliamentary Secretary indicate on what basis the clawback will apply in relation to gratuities and pensions? What would be the formulation of the clawback.

The Deputy is raising another matter.

That is a different question entirely.

Can the Parliamentary Secretary indicate if the gratuities paid to personnel after the Emergency period will be repaid?

I think I have answered that already.

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