Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 20 June 2017
372. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if retired public servants will be represented at the pay talks by associations representing specifically retired public servants; if an organisation (details supplied) are or will be participants in the talks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27275/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraWhen inviting the Public Services Committee of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions last month to the public service pay talks, which have now concluded, I indicated that a separate process of consultation would take place with an association representing public service pensioners. That process is ongoing, and my officials met recently with representatives of the Alliance of Retired Public Servants, who articulated the concerns and interests of public service pensioners in relation the impact of the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (FEMPI) legislation on pensions in payment through the operation of the Public Service Pension Reduction (PSPR) and related matters. A further meeting is planned.
The period since the Alliance’s engagement with my Department commenced in 2013 has been marked by notable legislated pension improvements for many public service pensioners. Specifically, public service pensioners are benefitting significantly from the substantial reversal of the cuts to public service pensions above specified thresholds which were originally imposed by way of the Public Service Pension Reduction (PSPR) under the FEMPI legislation.
I and my Department are fully committed to maintaining the well-established dialogue with the Alliance of Retired Public Servants. Through ongoing recourse to that dialogue process, I believe that retired public servants and their representatives can be confident that their pension concerns will receive full and proper consideration as they have done in the past.
