Industrial Relations

Tuesday, 14 December 2021

Questions (109)

Seán Haughey

Question:

109. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his views on whether retired persons who are members of occupational pension schemes should be granted access to the industrial relations machinery of the State in order that they are given a voice in industrial relations processes with regard to matters affecting occupational pensions and other issues; if he has consulted with the Departments of Social Protection and Public Expenditure and Reform together with trade unions, employers and industrial relations bodies on these issues; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that former workers of State and semi-State organisations are unhappy that they have not received increases in their pensions in recent years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61744/21]

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Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment

The Government agreed to a timed amendment to the Industrial Relations (Provisions in Respect of Pension Entitlements of Retired Workers) Bill 2021. This was to allow time, as has been outlined in the Dáil, to examine all the issues carefully and to ensure that stakeholders - including retired workers themselves, trade unions, employers, industrial relations bodies, the Departments of Social Protection and Public Expenditure and Reform - are given the opportunity to express their views on these important matters.

Following deliberations in the Dáil, I recently held a meeting with members of the Irish Senior Citizens Parliament who shared with me, and officials from my Department, some of their views on occupational pension schemes.

I intend to shortly launch a public consultation into certain matters raised during consideration of the Industrial Relations (Provisions in Respect of Pension Entitlements of Retired Workers) Bill 2021, and this will include input from organisations representing retired workers.