Public servant pensions face cuts
Last month it emerged that the Alliance of Retired Public Servants, an umbrella body whose constituent organisations represent 33,000 retirees, had made numerous requests to the Department of Public Enterprise and Reform to have an involvement in the discussions on the Croke Park II savings.
In January, minister Brendan Howlin’s department replied, saying the agreement “does not encompass retired public servants and their pension entitlements”.
Then in March it emerged that cuts ranging from a minimum of 2% at €32,500 and a maximum of €5% at €100,000 were to be taken from pensioners.
In response to a Dáil question from Fianna Fáil’s Willie O’Dea, Mr Howlin has reiterated the talks and draft agreement “did not encompass public service pensioners and their pension entitlements”.
“As referred to in the Labour Relations Commission proposals document, separately to the planned pay and productivity measures for existing public servants, the Government has decided to legislate for certain changes in respect of public service pensions.
“These changes are not part of the draft public service agreement, and were not proposed by the Labour Relations Commission.
“While I acknowledge the contribution made by public service pensioners to the fiscal consolidation process, to date, the changes now proposed are an important, burden-sharing element in the Government’s progress towards a restoration of the country’s economic sustainability. To that end my officials intend to meet with the Alliance of Retired Public Servants in the coming weeks.”
News that a meeting is imminent came as a surprise to the alliance, which said it had not received any communication from the department. The alliance’s honorary secretary Christy Conville said the only correspondence it had received were receipts of correspondence.
“If we are part of the solution, we have to be part of the process,” he said.
“The comments which have been made are that everything has been fair and there has been great detailed discussions and negotiations. But my understanding is that, even with the unions, there was no discussion. It was a diktat. And it certainly wasn’t fair.
“And he keeps mentioning that anybody below €65,000 hasn’t to worry. But he hasn’t mentioned the pensions of pensioners which are being cut at €32,500 and the widows of pensioners who are being cut at €16,000.”
