Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I did take a look at the issue after Deputy Dooley raised it on Second Stage and asked for a submission from my officials about it. The matter had been raised and examined by other Ministers in the past, most extensively by Mr. Noel Dempsey who also sought the advice of the then Attorney General. The conclusion they came to was that the people concerned ceased to be civil servants when they signed contracts with Aer Rianta going way back.

While the office notice gave them an assurance that there would not be changes and they would be no worse off in respect of their employment terms and conditions, that assurance did not extend to future pension rights. This was the determination when it was reviewed by the then Minister, Mr. Noel Dempsey, with the support of the Attorney General. Nothing has changed since then to alter the position. While it is open to employees to go to the courts if they so wish, that they have not done so may indicate that their own legal advice is similar to that of the Attorney General.