Ms Antoinette Cunningham:

Pensions regulations and rules changed between 1995 and 2013. Prior to 1995, a person got a State pension, in its totality, once they retired as a member of An Garda Síochána. After 1995 the rules changed. People receive a two-thirds State pension and a one-third supplementary pension from the Department of Social Protection until they reach the official old-age pension age. This supplementary pension is a conditional payment. No longer is it automatic. People have to claim it first in the form of jobseeker's benefit. They have to go down to the local office the day after they retire and basically make a declaration, which is false, that they are available for work. Unfortunately the Department is bound by its own regulations. Those who do not sign that declaration do not get the supplementary pension. Even though they have just retired, they have to make that false declaration.

I recently met the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Humphreys, and wrote to the Minister, Deputy Donohoe, on this issue. They have both assured me that this process will change and I hope it does. There is a working group established but unfortunately we are not members of it. A garda might retire at 50 years of age and might get a job driving a bus or doing something like that. The supplementary element of the pension is automatically taken from him or her at that point. For members who retire young, it is not encouraging them to stay in the workforce. It means they cannot go and get a job. They are restricted because they will lose that supplementary part of their pension, so we have sought reform in that area.