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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 3 Dec 1991

Vol. 413 No. 9

Written Answers. - Pension Transfer Scheme.

Peter Barry

Ceist:

114 Mr. Barry asked the Minister for Finance the reason employees of the Irish Sugar Company, now Greencore, were not included in the transfer scheme for pensions; and if, in view of the few members involved and as the Irish Sugar Company is one of the few State companies not included, he will now correct this anomaly.

Since 1980, my Department have operated a scheme whereby service may be transferred, for pension purposes, between participating organisations. Any organisation, in the public or private sector, is free to join this scheme if it is prepared to accept the obligations of membership, including the liability to make financial contributions where necessary towards the ultimate cost of service transfers.

On a number of occasions since the introduction of the scheme, the Irish Sugar Company were invited to apply for membership, but decided not to do so. I understand that these decisions were based on concerns about the potential cost to the company of participation in the scheme.

As mentioned previously, membership of the transfer scheme is open to both public and private sector organisations. Accordingly, the fact that Irish Sugar have, as Greencore, become a private company does not mean that they cannot participate in the scheme. However, the question of applying for membership is a matter to be decided by Greencore themselves.

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