Howlin refuses to reverse pension cuts

Public Service Reform Minister Brendan Howlin has refused to reverse cuts to the pensions of retired public servants, saying all of society must play its part in ensuring the economic survival of the State.

Mr Howlin was speaking following a meeting with representatives of the Alliance of Retired Public Servants. Since last January, the alliance had made numerous requests to have an involvement in the discussions on savings under Croke Park II. However, they were told at that stage the agreement “does not encompass retired public servants and their pension entitlements”.

Then it emerged that cuts ranging from 2% to 8% were to be imposed on retired public servants, even though they had not been involved in any negotiation. In March, alliance spokesman Seán Ó Ríordáin, said the use of emergency powers to take money from people without consultation was akin to something that would happen in a dictatorship. Another meeting was sought with the minister but for a number of weeks, the alliance received no reply.

Finally, at the end of last week, the minister agreed to meet with a delegation.

Yesterday, following that meeting, Mr Howlin issued a letter to the alliance in which he said he “fully understood” its concerns.

“I would genuinely wish economic circumstances were otherwise, but the reality is the Government must take steps to ensure the economic survival of the State and this impacts across society,” he said. However, it was his intention “as a matter of priority to move towards reducing the burden of the public service pension reduction, with the initial focus on the people in receipt of low pensions, at the earliest date economic progress permits”.

Also the minister also agreed to form a formalised structure between the Government and alliance for ongoing engagement on public service pension matters.