Dáil debates

Wednesday, 19 October 2011

Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme) and Remuneration Bill: Second Stage

 

12:00 pm

Photo of Mary Lou McDonaldMary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)

My party welcomes this legislation. Clearly, the Public Sector Pensions (Single Scheme) and Remuneration Bill cannot go unchecked. I welcome the Minister's comment in respect of sustainability in pensions, especially in respect of fairness, and welcome this opportunity to address the inequities of the current system which unduly favour the higher echelons.

It appears that lower paid workers will have better provision in the new scheme. The principle of calculating public sector pensions on the basis of career average earnings rather than on final pay makes a great deal of sense and I welcome those concepts. To the Minister's way of thinking, linking the public service pension age with the three year increase in the State pension age, makes sense and I see the rationale. However, my party does not support forcing older people to stay in work late into their 60s. If we continue along this trajectory who is to say retirement age may not go as far as 70? A previous speaker referred to people remaining active, which is excellent.

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