Vol. 566 No. 3
420 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the pension loss for retired gardaí where there are effectively three levels for pensions entitlement - pre-1982 retirees, 1982-93 retirees and post-1993 retirees; the steps he will put in place to redress this anomaly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13014/03]
As the Deputy is aware, the Government decided in September 2001 to accept the thrust of the package of reforms recommended by the Commission on Public Service Pensions and to establish a working group to advise on implementation, as provided for in the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness. Parallel structures with the same remit were established in the case of An Garda Síochána and the Defence Forces. The operational details of the implementation of the commission's recommendations will be agreed by Government following receipt of a report from the implementation working group. The report is in the process of being finalised.
The position on the issue of parity of pensions for members of An Garda Síochána who retired prior to 1 January 1993, who do not receive the unsocial hours element in their pensions, and those who retired prior to 1 October 1982, who do not receive the rent allowance element in their pensions, is that the commission examined the specific issue of the pensionability of allowances for members of An Garda Síochána and others, as part of its deliberations, but, having assessed the arguments involved, did not recommend any increase in pension for the groups involved. Having regard to the commission's report, I have no plans to introduce amending legislation at this stage.
