Vol. 535 No. 5
153 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Finance if he will co-opt at least one member of the National Association of Retired Public Employees onto the proposed advisory committee being set up in relation to the public services pension. [13133/01]
I assume that the Deputy is referring to the working group to be established under the terms of the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness to advise on the implementation of the relevant decisions arising out of the Government's consideration of the final report of the Commission on Public Service Pensions. The PPF provides that the working group will comprise representatives of the public service unions, relevant Departments and other appropriate parties. I am not in a position to comment further at this stage, except to say that the Government is taking particular care in examining the commission's report, the recommendations of which have implications for all parties having an interest in public service pensions, including pensioner associations and pensioners generally. The Government will move to establish the working group when it has made its decisions on the commission's recommendations.
