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

It does not have an impact at all. Any proposal by the DAA to amend that scheme - we are not aware of any - would require ministerial approval under section 32(6). That is nothing new. It is not envisaged.

With regard to Shannon Development, it is important to bear in mind that Shannon Airport Authority staff will remain as Shannon Airport Authority staff, and the staff in Shannon Development will remain as Shannon Development staff under a new name, Shannon Commercial Enterprises Limited.

It is actually quite different from what would have happened with P&T or even ARI. The staff are actually staying as employees of their existing employer. It does not arise that we could have a repeat of the circumstances of 1968.

On the appeals mechanism, I do not propose to accept the amendment. It is a matter for national pensions policy than for one pension fund. Under trust law, trustees are required to treat all classes of member fairly. It is important to understand that within the IAS scheme, trustees are treating active and deferred members in exactly the same manner in the restructuring of their past service benefits. However, to the extend that any member believes the trustees have treated them unfairly, they obviously have the right of recourse through the courts. In addition, members of any pension scheme have recourse to the Pensions Ombudsman under section 131 of the Pensions Act. The Pensions Ombudsman can be asked to rule on complaints by members, including deferred members that they have suffered financial loss occasioned by an act of maladministration by the trustee or be any dispute of fact or law that arises in relation to an act done by the trustee. As far as I am concerned, therefore, an appeals mechanism already exists, either through the courts or Pensions Ombudsman.