Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)

I move amendment No. 1:

In page 8, line 25, to delete "Act 1965." and substitute the following:

"Act 1965;

(d) section 6 of the Superannuation and Pensions Act 1963;

(e) section 7 of the Superannuation and Pensions Act 1963;

(f) section 78 of the Local Government (Superannuation)(Consolidation) Scheme 1998.".

This amendment seeks, in section 3, to include the repeal of sections 6 and 7 of the Superannuation and Pensions Act 1963, along with section 78 of the Local Government (Superannuation)(Consolidation) Scheme 1998.

I have had an ongoing debate with the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform but, sadly, to no avail in respect of addressing not just future pension entitlements, but also current ones, and in particular those enjoyed by persons at the upper end of the service, such as current Secretaries General and county managers. The Minister, who has now joined us, has promised to deal with these matters but he has not done so as yet. I am therefore proposing this amendment as the manner in which those very large pension pots would be finally dealt with. The wording suggests including the repeal of sections 6 and 7 of the Superannuation and Pensions Act 1963 and section 78 of the Local Government (Superannuation)(Consolidation) Scheme 1998.

The Minister has said for quite some time that he will deal with the issue pertaining to county managers but he has not yet done so. We have had a long debate about this matter. I have asked the Minister to deal with the pension pots of current Secretaries General and the really indefensible pension arrangements they currently enjoy. I am asking him to accept this amendment as a concrete way of finally resolving this issue.

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