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Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 20 Jun 2000

Vol. 521 No. 4

Written Answers. - Garda Pay.

Batt O'Keeffe

Question:

235 Mr. B. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he intends to rectify the situation where members of the Garda Síochána who retired before January 1993 have substantially less than members who retired after that period. [17253/00]

Following prolonged discussions at the Garda Conciliation Council agreement was reached in March 1994 which provided, inter alia, for the pensionability of unsocial hours allowances for members of the force who retired after 1 January 1993. The agreement was reached under the terms of the local bargaining clause, clause 3, of the agreement on pay and conditions which formed part of the Programme for Economic and Social Progress. The claim does not allow for retrospection.

In November 1997 the Government decided that public servants who retired before the commencement dates of restructuring pay deals under theProgramme for Competitiveness and Work should benefit from those pay deals on a parity basis subject to a minimum adjustment of 3% in their pensions, or 2% in the case of those pensioners who have already received an advance payment of 1%.
The Government has considered the issue of pension increases for public servants on several occasions since coming into office and, in order to help in its deliberations, referred the matter to the Commission on Public Service Pensions.
The report of the Commission on Public Service Pensions is expected to be published later this year. The Programme for Prosperity and Fairness states that following Government consideration of the report, a working group of the public service unions, relevant Departments and other appropriate parties will be established to advise on the implementation of the relevant Government decision with a view to introducing, as quickly as possible, any proposed changes in public service pension arrangements.
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