Vol. 480 No. 2
147 Mr. N. Ahern asked the Minister for Finance if he will make a statement on the concerns of many retired public servants regarding pension parity; and whether the long established principle of pensioners receiving 50 per cent of rate for the job will be maintained. [13408/97]
Consideration is currently being given to the implications of restructuring deals completed under the PCW for existing pensioners and pensions increase policy across the public service. The joint statement issued by the leaders of the parties elected to Government last month acknowledged the role played by public servants over the decades and undertook to "resolve the problems surrounding the pensions of retired public service staff". The matter is also included in the Goverment's joint programme, An Action Programme for the Millennium, which states that public service pensions will be protected. In addition I point out that the issue of pensions increased in the foregoing context has been the subject of ongoing discussions with the public services committee of ICTU.
Against this background of protecting public sector pensions, I am considering options for uprating pensions in the particular circumstances of restructuring deals under the PCW provision and I expect to make a decision on the matter shortly.
