Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 19 Mar 1997

Vol. 476 No. 5

Written Answers - Garda Pensions.

Mary Wallace

Question:

207 Miss M. Wallace asked the Minister for Justice her views on the position with regard to female gardaí who joined the force prior to 1983 and were placed on a 25 year pension scheme as distinct from their male colleagues of that era who were on a 30 year pension scheme, resulting in the female members contributing at a higher rate to the pension scheme; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that in 1983, such female gardaí were apparently offered an option which they did not understand which leaves them continuing to contribute at the higher rate but unable to retire until minimum age 50, thus leaving a person who entered in 1979 at the age of 20 having to contribute for 30 years to the age of 50, resulting in the situation where these female gardaí are paying at the rate of 2.5 per cent over 30 years while their male colleagues are paying at 1.75 per cent, also over 30 years; if she will address the inequality of this situation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7398/97]

Minister for Justice (Mrs. Owen)

Prior to 14 June 1983, female members of the Garda Síochána were entitled to retire on full pension at age 50 provided they had approved service of 25 years. Male members were entitled to retire on full pension at the age of 50 provided they had approved service of 30 years. In the case of female members the superannuation contribution rate was 2.5 per cent of pensionable remuneration while the corresponding contribution rate in the case of male members was 1.75 per cent.

As a result of an agreement reached at the Garda Conciliation Council in 1983 it was decided that all members of the force, both male and female, would in future, be conditioned to a minimum of 30 years service with a corresponding pension contribution rate of 1.75 per cent. The agreement also provided that all members, both male and female, who were serving on 14 June 1983 would be given the option of paying the 2.5 per cent or 1.75 per cent pension contribution rate and would be, accordingly, conditioned to serve for a minimum 25 or 30 years as appropriate.

The option to pay the 2.5 per cent pension rate with the corresponding possibility of retiring on full pension at the age of 50, having served less than 30 years, applied to both male and female members of the force and both male and female members availed of it. In the event a number of such members, both male and female, choose to remain on in the force after serving 25 years and after reaching the age of 50. It cannot be accepted, however, that the exercise of that choice is, in any sense, proof that the option was not understood when it was exercised in 1983. It is more likely to simply reflect a change in a member's career choice in the intervening years.

It has been suggested that special consideration should be given to a very small number of members, both male and female, who were under the age of 20 when they exercised the option in 1983 of paying a 2.5 per cent pension contribution rate. Since they had to serve to age 50 anyway they obviously could not normally benefit from the option of retiring with less than 30 years service. The position of these members is currently under discussion at the Garda Conciliation Council. Since the proceedings of the council, under the terms of the Garda conciliation and arbitration scheme, are confidential it would not be appropriate to comment further on those cases at this time.