Vol. 535 No. 4
218 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if part-time employees who have been indirectly discriminated against on gender grounds in relation to their pension schemes will be able to claim back pension rights to 1976; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12968/01]
I am currently examining a report from the Pensions Board on pensions equal treatment issues generally to be addressed in the forthcoming Pensions Bill and the issue raised by the Deputy will be addressed in that context.
My colleague, the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, is currently overseeing the passage of the Protection of Employees (Part-Time) Work Bill, through the Oireachtas which will implement the provisions of the European Community Directive on part-time workers. This directive essentially provides that part-time workers may not be treated less favourably than their full-time counterparts in relation to their terms and conditions of employment, including pensions.
