Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

We cannot discuss them at any length because we have been told they are not relevant to the Bill. I understand the Minister said recently that she intends to introduce updated legislation on pensions, or was it guidelines. What is the mechanism to allow us debate some of these very important matters? My colleagues and I wanted to speak about the disgraceful way in which deferred pensioners are being treated in connection with a certain pension scheme at present. We want to try to ensure a situation where somebody cannot wind up a defined benefit pension scheme unless it is 90% funded. We want a fair appeals system where trustees have decided to reduce people's benefits. Given the demography of the country, in 20 or 25 years in relative terms we will not be able to maintain the same State pension benefits as at present, therefore, some alternative must be put in place.

All the changes that have taken place in respect of defined benefit pension schemes are taking us further away from that. I do not know anybody who would be disposed to investing in a defined benefit pension scheme as the element of certainty which was the attraction of these schemes has disappeared. There are practical and necessary things we can do to make the system fair, just and equitable for pensioners to ensure there is no discrimination between deferred pensioners, actual pensioners and people who are still at work and potential pensioners. I regret we cannot debate these matters. This Bill appears to me to be the obvious vehicle to table those series of amendments. Perhaps the Minister will indicate whether she has any changes in mind along the lines of some of what we have suggested and the appropriate mechanism to raise these matters which are of great importance to many people, judging by the volume of emails received.