Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 13 March 2014
284. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will ensure that the expert group appointed to investigate the IASS pension situation is required to meet representatives groups from the deferred members and existing pensioner groups. [12525/14]
View answer292. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will appoint representatives from the deferred members of the Irish aviation superannuation scheme to the newly established expert panel. [12594/14]
View answer293. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to the potential loss of 50% or more of expected pension entitlements for some deferred members of the Irish aviation superannuation scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12595/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 284, 292 and 293 together.
The questions all relate to the Irish Airlines Superannuation Scheme (IASS). As Minister for Transport Tourism and Sport I have no function in relation to the administration of the IASS. The resolution of the funding difficulties in the scheme is primarily a matter for the trustees, the members of the scheme, the companies participating in the scheme and the regulator of such pension schemes - the Pensions Board.
The trustees announced in February that they had decided in principle on a number of changes to address the funding difficulties of the scheme. The trustees, who are central to any solution to the funding difficulties, are required by law to act in the best interests of all members of the scheme, be they active, deferred or pensioner members. The letter from the trustees to the employers and unions formally requests them to give appropriate consideration to the position of the deferred members in further discussions.
Following consultations between my Department, the Department of Jobs Enterprise and Innovation, IBEC and ICTU, an Expert Panel has been established to carry out a detailed investigation of how a final resolution of the industrial relations issues relating to the IASS can be secured. That investigation will include discussions with relevant stakeholders and the Panel has been asked to make a preliminary report by the end of March.
