Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 5 March 2019
150. Deputy Frank O'Rourke asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the timeline and publication date for the report as per section 3(6) of the Public Service Superannuation (Age of Retirement) Act 2018 which commits to a report being laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas within three months of the passing of the Act (details suppled); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10499/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Public Service Superannuation (Age of Retirement) Act 2018 provides for an increase to age 70 in the compulsory retirement age of most public servants recruited before 1 April 2004.
Public servants who reached the compulsory retirement age of 65 before the new legislation was enacted were required to retire in accordance with the statutory compulsory retirement age in effect at the time. Those who availed of the interim arrangements did so in the knowledge that the contract was for one year only, until they reached the age of 66. The Public Service Superannuation (Age of Retirement) Act 2018 has no effect on those public servants who availed of the interim arrangements. The terms of their fixed term contracts continue to apply and they will cease working at age 66 as previously provided.
Section 3A(6) of the Act provides that I, as Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform shall, within three months of the passing of the Act, prepare and lay before the Oireachtas a report on the public servants obliged to retire between 6 December 2017 and the commencement of the Act, due to reaching the age of 65 years, and on potential remedies to assist this cohort of worker.
Work on the report is under way in accordance with the terms of Section 3A(6). Under that provision, publication of the report is required within three months of the passing of the Act on 26 December and I intend to comply with that timeline.
It would not be appropriate for me to comment on the content of a report which is currently under preparation, not completed and which I am statutorily obliged to lay before the Oireachtas.
