Mr. Gerry Foley:

I am chairman of the ARPS which represents 150,000 members. Because we are limited in time, I will only deal with certain issues.

Members have the documents we submitted. I will then address the definition of a “worker”, which was included in an individual way. The issue that arises regarding us is that in the 1990 Act, because we are not a “worker”, the Act did not cover us at all. We are exempt completely from any negotiations relating to our pensions and it is still there.

While we are dealing with this and the whole operation of it, I would like to thank Deputy Smith. My organisation met all of the public servants and the only one who came up with the Bill was the Deputy. I would like to pay tribute to her.

I raised an issue last night regarding the Lisbon treaty. We believe the Government may be in breach of the Lisbon treaty because of the fact that we are retired workers with no rights. The Chair might check that out. On a legal matter, which I have in my head here, it will make it easier for him anyway.

An issue came up when the former Minister of State, Deputy English addressed the committee way back. He said there was an issue where people could go and get everything looked after, but it did not relate at all to us or anyone in our organisation. I am just noting that for the benefit of the meeting.

We are asking that, in the debate on the Bill, members would be clear and help to keep the Bill there. Nobody, including any Government, introduced a Bill other than Deputy Bríd Smith, so that at least there would be some recognition of retired workers and it would be open to everyone. I reiterate that it is not open to our members at all, which causes a serious problem under the 1990 Act. Perhaps an amendment to that could be dealt with at some stage.

All we ask is that this Bill would be treated fairly and looked at in proper detail. If the committee wants us to come back again to speak about it, we would more than welcome that. I will leave it at that at the moment.