Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 13 Feb 2003

Vol. 561 No. 3

Written Answers. - Pension Provisions.

Denis Naughten

Question:

162 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Transport the action he intends to take to address the grievance of the Retired Aviation Staff Association in view of his correspondence to them (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4172/03]

Minister for Transport (Mr. Brennan)

RASA has sought enhanced pensions for pensioners of the Irish airlines general employees superannuation scheme. It seeks to bridge the difference between the annual consumer price index related increases awarded by the trustees of the scheme to the pensioners and salary movements.

Pension entitlements for employees of commercial State bodies, including Aer Lingus and Aer Rianta, are matters primarily for the trustees, the members of the relevant scheme and the company involved.

Both companies have been meeting all of their liabilities towards the pension fund in accordance with the rules of the scheme. Neither Aer Lingus nor Aer Rianta is in a position to provide additional payments into the pension fund to meet the claim by RASA.

In response to representations, the case made by the association was forwarded in July 2001 by my predecessor, Senator Mary O'Rourke, for consideration to the Minister for Finance who has overall responsibility for pension matters in the public sector. The contents of his reply were communicated to RASA in October 2001.

The Minister for Finance advised that it would not be appropriate to accede to the request from the association for an injection into the pension fund. He said there must be continued adherence to the longstanding policy in this area and that pension entitlements for employees of commercial State bodies, including Aer Lingus and Aer Rianta, are matters primarily for the trustees, the members of the relevant scheme and the companies involved.

There has been no obvious solution to this matter despite detailed examination over the past number of years. I have asked Aer Lingus and Aer Rianta to keep the situation under review.