Vol. 574 No. 1
252 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the concerns in the Prison Officers' Association regarding restrictions on the pension possibilities for early retirement; and the way in which plans to ensure that special terms will remain in certain occupations, as was envisaged by the Pensions Committee. [26428/03]
The issue of retirement age and early retirement was examined by the Commission on Public Service Pensions and, as the Deputy is aware, the commission made a number of proposals in this regard in the case of prison officers and others in the public service. The Government accepted the commission's report in principle in September 2001. The Government also decided to establish a joint working group with the public services committee of ICTU to examine and report on the implementation of the commission's recommendations. The working group has now reported. At present I am considering the recommendations of the pensions commission and the report of the working group with a view to drawing up proposals for implementation of appropriate pension reforms.
