asked the Minister for Finance if he will include Garda pensioners who retired from the Garda Síochána before 1 October 1982 and their widows, in the 1983 arbitration award on the pensionability of Garda allowances, and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Arbitration Award.
23.
The arbitration finding referred to by the Deputy provided that a number of Garda allowances, which had previously been non-pensionable, became reckonable for pension purposes with effect from 1 October 1982. The finding has been implemented in full in respect of all persons to whom it applies, i.e. gardaí who retired on or after the date fixed by the arbitrator, and the widows of such gardaí.
I understand that following publication of the arbitration report and on a number of occasions subsequently, the Garda Síochána Pensioners' Association has requested that the scope of the finding be extended to include pensioners who are not covered by its terms (i.e. those who retired before 1 October 1982) but that cost considerations have hitherto precluded acceding to these requests.
I regret that the current critical state of the public finances means that it is not possible, for the time being at least, to extend the scope of the arbitration finding to cover the pre-October 1982 pensioners. I am conscious of the disappointment which will be felt by the pensioners affected by this outcome and I wish to assure them that their case will be reviewed sympathetically as soon as it is opportune to do so.