Written Answers Nos. 270-281
270. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he is satisfied that the Coast Guard is not defined as a principal response agency in view of it being the body with the apparent responsibility and developed expertise in search and rescue operations in Irish waters. [5034/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Irish Coast Guard is designated as a Principal Emergency Service within the Framework for Emergency Management, rather than a Principal Response Agency. This designation has not prevented or impeded the IRCG from carrying out an effective response to search and rescue situations or the discharge of its functions generally.
271. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the overcrowding issues on peak rail services on the Docklands M3 Parkway route will be addressed; if more carriages will be added to these peak services in order to address the problem of overcrowding; his views on whether this overcrowding will discourage persons from using public transport; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the Docklands area is set for further development which will create greater demand for a high quality rail service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5018/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe issue raised is a matter for the National Transport Authority (NTA) in conjunction with Iarnród Éireann and I have forwarded the Deputy's question to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.
272. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to ensure that CIÉ makes funding available to the 10,000 active members of its two pension schemes for independent legal advice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5030/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra273. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if there are issues with the two CIÉ pension schemes; if funding for independent legal advice will be made available to the members of these schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5035/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra274. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if there will be an independent investigation into the governance of the two CIÉ pension schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5036/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra275. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will report on his Department's correspondence with CIÉ regarding the 10,000 membership of the CIÉ pension schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5037/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra276. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to ensure that CIÉ makes funding available to the 10,000 active members of its two pension schemes for independent legal advice. [5048/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra277. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to initiate an independent investigation into the governance of the two CIÉ pension schemes. [5049/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra278. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will intervene with CIÉ on behalf of the 10,000 membership of the CIÉ pension schemes to oblige the company to answer all outstanding questions. [5050/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra279. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the steps he has taken to ensure that Córas Iompair Éireann makes funding available for independent legal advice for the 10,000 members of its pension scheme to investigate the problems in those schemes. [5051/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra280. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to initiate an independent investigation into the governance of the two Córas Iompair Éireann pension schemes. [5052/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra281. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to ensure that Córas Iompair Éireann answers all outstanding questions raised on behalf of the 10,000 membership relating to issues surrounding the CIÉ pension schemes. [5053/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra285. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the CIÉ pension fund has been underfunded in terms of the company contributions in each of the years 2009 to 2017 and to date in 2018; and the steps he will take to direct it to address the shortfall in order to ensure the fund is fully solvent and that there is no threat to fund members’ pensions. [5091/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra286. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to the fact that Córas Iompair Éireann submitted severely flawed funding submissions to the Pensions Authority that do not fully reflect the reality of the situation in regard to the current and future funding of the defined benefit pensions of up to 10,000 members of the CIÉ pension scheme. [5094/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra287. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to investigate if the election process to the CIÉ pension fund management committee was in compliance with regulations. [5096/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra289. Deputy Eugene Murphy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if CIÉ will make funding available to the 10,000 active members of its two pension schemes for independent legal advice. [5134/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra290. Deputy Eugene Murphy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if an independent investigation into the governance of the two CIÉ pension schemes will be initiated. [5135/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra291. Deputy Eugene Murphy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if CIÉ will answer all of the outstanding questions asked on behalf of the 10,000 membership of the CIÉ pension schemes. [5136/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra293. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to initiate an independent investigation into the governance of the two CIÉ pension schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5221/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra294. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to ensure that CIÉ makes funding available to the 10,000 active members of its two pension schemes for independent legal advice; his further plans to initiate an independent investigation into the governance of the two CIÉ pension schemes; and his plans to ensure that CIÉ answers all outstanding questions asked on behalf of the 10,000 members of the CIÉ pension schemes. [5222/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 272 to 281, inclusive, 285 to 287, inclusive, 289 to 291, inclusive, 293 and 294 together.
Issues in relation to Córas Iompair Éireann (CIÉ) pension schemes are primarily a matter for the trustees of the pension schemes, the CIÉ Group and their employees.
In a Topical Issues debate in this House on 6 December 2017, I outlined the challenges faced in addressing the solvency of the schemes and the process underway to address the deficit which involves detailed discussion between CIÉ and employee representatives, facilitated by the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC). I said that CIÉ was on record at the WRC that it will not impose any change that it proposes without the agreement of the active members of both schemes and that it will continue to contribute to both schemes in accordance with the rules of the schemes. I am informed that this remains CIÉ's position in order to bring about a set of proposals that could form the basis of the trustees' submission to the Pensions Authority and that it continues to engage with the WRC.
I recently received correspondence in regard to the issues raised by Deputies and I will be responding in due course. In the meantime, I have referred the Deputies questions to CIÉ for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.
The referred replies were forwarded to the Deputies under Standing Order 42A.
