Vol. 551 No. 2
219 Mr. Bradford asked the Minister for Finance in relation to the political staff paid from the Vote for the Houses of the Oireachtas, the financial entitlements of contract staff recruited since 1997 who may be declared redundant following a general election. [9776/02]
In the case of staff who entered into contracts since 1997, they would be entitled to four weeks pay per year of service, in addition to any entitlements under the Redundancy Payments Acts if they are made redundant following a general election or the death or resignation of a member of the Oireachtas to whom they are contracted.
220 Mr. Bradford asked the Minister for Finance if, in relation to the political staff paid from the Vote for Houses of the Oireachtas, the VER portion of the Labour Relations Agreement of 1997 is available to staff who commenced employment on contract since 1997 and staff who retained their original status under that agreement; the service calculable in respect of staff who retained their original status under the agreement; and the pension entitlements of all staff. [9777/02]
In the case of staff who commenced employment on contract since 1997 and also staff who retained their original status under the terms of the Labour Relations Commission agreement of 1997, they would be entitled to four weeks pay per year of service, in addition to their entitlements under the Redundancy Payments Acts, if they are made redundant following a general election or the death or resignation of a member of the Oireachtas to whom they are contracted. The service calculable is based on an individual's service. Pension entitlements for political staff paid from the Vote for Houses of the Oireachtas are as per the superannuation scheme for officers employed under the scheme for the provision of secretarial assistance for members of Dáil Éireann who are not office holders. The terms and conditions of this scheme are available for the Deputy's information.
221 Mr. Bradford asked the Minister for Finance if, in relation to the political staff paid from the Vote for Houses of the Oireachtas, contract staff who took the buyout in 1997 are entitled to the VER portion of the Labour Relations Agreement signed in 1997; and the service which will be taken into account when calculating that VER entitlement. [9778/02]
The situation with regard to the voluntary retirement option available to the political staff paid from the Vote for Houses of the Oireachtas and in particular to those staff who opted for the buy-out option under the terms of the Labour Relations Commission, 1997, agreement should they now opt for voluntary redundancy is as follows. Should staff who opted for the buy-out now opt for voluntary redundancy following a general election or the death or resignation of a member of the Oireachtas to whom they are contracted, they would be entitled to four weeks pay per year of service in addition to their entitlements under the Redundancy Payments Acts, service prior to 1997 is reckonable. Individual entitlements will differ according to their particular service details.
