Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 16 June 2004
190 Mr. B. O’Keeffe asked the Minister for Transport the reason an anomaly exists in view of the fact that Aer Rianta pensions are not index linked when other semi-State companies such as Bord na Móna, ESB and so on are index linked; and when it is his intention to bring the Aer Rianta pensions in line with those of other semi-State bodies. [18026/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraAer Rianta is part of the Irish airlines (general employees) superannuation scheme, a multi-employer scheme which also includes Aer Lingus and FLS Aerospace as well as a number of smaller companies.
I understand Aer Rianta has been meeting all of its liabilities towards the pension fund in accordance with the rules of the scheme. I also understand that recent practice under the scheme has been to provide pension increases in line with the consumer price index to pensions in payment. These increases are not guaranteed and are not explicitly funded but depend on the performance of the pension fund and are paid at the discretion of the trustees of the scheme.
I do not propose to change long standing policy in this area, that is, that pension entitlements for employees of commercial State bodies, including Aer Rianta, are a matter for the trustees, the members of the relevant scheme and the company involved. The State has no involvement in the funding of these schemes.
