I propose to take Questions Nos. 45, 78 and 127 together.
I am aware of the concerns of the Retired Aviation Staff Association about pension increases from the Irish airlines (general employees) superannuation scheme. Over the past two years or so I have responded to numerous representations in relation to the concerns of the retirees' association about the Irish airlines scheme. I have also met representatives from the association and senior officials from my Department met with the association on a number of occasions last year. In addition, the association has also met senior management representatives from Aer Lingus and Aer Rianta in relation to their concerns.
I have not received any request for a further meeting with the association. As Deputies will be aware, I committed the case made by the retired aviation staff association for enhanced pension increases for Aer Lingus and Aer Rianta pensioners to my colleague Deputy McCreevy, the Minister for Finance, who has overall responsibility for pensions in the public sector. I received a reply from him last September, the contents of which have been communicated to the retirees' association.
The Minister for Finance does not consider that it would be appropriate to accede to the request from the Retired Aviation Staff Association for an Exchequer injection into the pension fund and that there must be continued adherence to the long-standing policy in this area, namely that pension entitlements for employees of commercial State bodies, including Aer Lingus and Aer Rianta, are a matter for the trustees, the members of the relevant scheme and the companies involved. As regards pension enhancements to benefit both serving staff and existing pensioners going forward, I have been advised that there is no provision in the Aer Lingus survival plan for any extra costs in relation to pensions.
In so far as Aer Rianta is concerned, I understand that the company, in consultation with staff interests, is in the process of establishing its own separate pension scheme in accordance with the provisions of section 32 of the Air Navigation and Transport (Amendment) Act, 1998.