Willie Penrose (Westmeath, Labour)

Is the Minister satisfied that the construction industry has thus far complied with its obligations under what is a registered employment agreement, a sacrosanct agreement between workers and employers? Is he satisfied with the level of transparency in the current scheme? Last year, SIPTU was compelled to raise significant concerns regarding the operation of the industry confederation's pension scheme which did not cover up to 50% of the relevant workers. Should the Minister not have been concerned that workers who work hard from early morning until late at night were not covered by their pension scheme? Ultimately, employers benefit most from the work of their employees and generally get fat on the backs of working people rather than from materials. I understand 80,000 of a membership of 120,000 contributed to the scheme.

Is the Minister satisfied the new scheme will ensure the registration of all employees, the proper payment of deducted contributions and the eradication of the unethical practices about which the Pensions Ombudsman, Mr. Kenny, complained last year? Too many employers force their workers to pretend they are self-employed — C45 men and women — in order to circumvent PAYE regulations intended to ensure employees are paid benefits when they become sick or retire. It is time to call a halt to those who are eager to exploit the Celtic tiger. Is the Minister satisfied that such exploitation will not be possible under the new scheme?

A matter pertaining to defined benefit pensions was brought to my attention by a person in Cork. Some trustees of schemes claim to be entitled to override the rules of schemes by the application of section 48(3) of the Pensions Act 1990. Is it not important that Acts passed by this sovereign Parliament do not allow anybody to override any part of the deeds of a trust? Section 48(3) of the Pensions Act should be examined in that context.

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