Richard Bruton
Ceist:272 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Finance if he will appoint an arbitrator to adjudicate on pension parity issues for retired public servants which are outstanding from the PCW. [5723/99]
Written Answers. - Pension Provisions.
Following the Government decision in November 1997 to apply parity with a floor of 3 per cent to public servants who had retired before the commencement dates of restructuring pay deals under the Programme for Competitiveness and Work, my Department issued comprehensive guidelines for dealing with cases. Initially, there were difficulties in interpreting how these guidelines should be applied to certain groups of pensioners, particularly in the local authority and health board areas. These issues were subsequently resolved and my Department along with other Departments made every effort to ensure that public sector bodies implemented fully the terms of the Government decision. The issues now being pursued by certain pensioner groups dispute aspects of settled pensions parity policy. For example, some pensioners want personal long service increments paid to certain serving staff under their PCW restructuring pay deals to be passed on to retired personnel. My Department has made it clear from the beginning that it is a core element of pensions parity policy that such payments are not passed on to pensioners because they are not a permanent feature of the pay scale. This was one of the key criteria set out in the guidelines issued to Departments.
In the circumstances, I do not see a case for the appointment of an arbitrator to adjudicate on pensions parity issues. I would point out that superannuation matters are not arbitrable for serving staff under the terms of Public Service Conciliation and Arbitration Schemes.