Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 December 2004
162 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources when retired workers from An Post will receive retrospective payments from 1 November 2003, under Sustaining Progress; the efforts being made to have these payments made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33134/04]
View answer167 Mr. English asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if An Post will be instructed to pay the 3% increase in the pensions of retired An Post pensioners; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33176/04]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 162 and 167 together.
I acknowledge the difficulties created for pensioners by the current position in An Post, which I regret. Authority to implement pension increases was delegated to An Post by the Department on 26 May 1989. Traditionally, An Post has granted increases to serving staff in line with national pay agreements. Increases to pensioners have then subsequently been applied in line with increases granted to serving staff.
The current position arises because of the ongoing failure of management and unions to agree payment and productivity terms in light of the current financial position of An Post. Due to the non-payment of Sustaining Progress increases to serving employees in An Post, the company had decided that pensioners would not be paid the increases, as the practice has been to maintain parity between pay and pensions. Notwithstanding this position, I have expressed my concern to the board and management of An Post about the position regarding pensioners and discussions between relevant Departments and officials on the matter are ongoing.
