Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)

It is agreed that what Deputy Fleming is looking for in his amendment, namely, a report after six months is not long enough in terms of this type of scheme. One would have to give it a little more time. It has been explained to me that it would be okay if a new entrant died shortly after entering the service. One might be able to do an early micro assessment but I do not think that would be very reasonable in terms of how it would work into the future. The report will have to wait a little bit longer. It is a good idea but six months is a little bit unreasonable.

I refer to Deputy Fleming's argument in regard to clerical officers, for instance. Clerical officers will have to work longer and will not be allowed to retire until they are 60 years of age. Prison officers will also work until they are 60 years of age but they may retire at 55 years of age, which is a clear distinction. Clerical officers will work until they are 68 years of age under the new arrangements.

The Minister's commitment to the public service is not something for which he has been widely praised but I do not believe anyone would doubt his commitment to it and to protecting that particular group of people. That group of people includes not only those we see sitting at desks or meeting people at counters but people in uniforms who do very dangerous jobs. The reason the Minister is not here today is that he has a meeting with the Taoiseach in regard to the Croke Park agreement. His commitment cannot be doubted and it is probably stronger than any other person's in the State.

The Department recently sent a fairly comprehensive letter to the Prison Officers Association, SIPTU, the Association of Higher Civil and Public Servants, the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors, the Garda Representative Association, Permanent Defence Force Other Ranks Representative Association and the Representative Association of Commissioned Officers confirming that the report drawn up in regard to the public sector clearly states that people in these categories will not be unduly affected by the changes to the scheme compared to current members. The Minister is not inclined to accept the amendment.

Deputy McDonald is opposing this section which provides the scheme members, who may be required to retire early, such as the gardaí, Permanent Defence Force members, firefighters and prison officers, with early paid pensions and fast accrual. I cannot accept the amendment which would strip these uniformed public servants of these valuable and important benefits in the single scheme.

Deputy Fleming wants a report to be published within six months of the enactment of this Act on the implications of the new scheme for the categories covered by this section. As the Minister said on Committee Stage, there are, as there should be, review powers in section 41 of the Bill which will allow the scheme to be reviewed for any class of scheme members.

The Department has not had a response to the letter sent to all of the main players, including the unions, on this issue. If a fast accruals system is to be put in place, which is right because we rely on these people for our safety in all sorts of ways every day of the week, there will be an additional cost but it is a cost which will be reflected in the exit. It is right that people in these areas are allowed to retire earlier because they do jobs which they cannot go on doing indefinitely.

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