Ruth Coppinger
Ceist:166. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on whether a sale of Aer Lingus will have an impact on employment, pensions, aviation services and tourism. [4363/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 3 February 2015
Ceisteanna (166)
Freagraí scríofa
I have addressed the issues raised by the IAG potential Offer for Aer Lingus in my answers to priority questions 4656/15 and 4666/15.
In relation to pensions, for the last number of years Aer Lingus, together with the other employers in the Irish Airline Superannuation Scheme, has been working with the various stakeholders to put the company's pension funding arrangements on a sustainable footing. The funding proposal from the scheme's trustees was approved last year by the statutory regulator for pensions, the Pensions Authority, and has been implemented since 31 December 2014. The IASS trustee has confirmed that these measures are in the overall best interest of the members of the IASS as a whole and are fully compliant with national and EU law.
I am very conscious of the difficulties these necessary changes cause for many scheme members but the risks that would have arisen for all members, the companies and the wider economy in the event of failure of this solution were even greater.