Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

A number of important reforms have occurred. The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Howlin, has announced significant reforms to the exit terms applying to new Secretaries General; all public servants, including the Judiciary, have had their pay reduced substantially and are also paying the pension-related deduction; for public servants retiring since February, the pension is based on reduced pay rates that, in turn, will give a lower rate of pension; the Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Act 2012 contains provisions that widen the application of pension abatement and extends service caps across the public service; the new single public service pension scheme introduces a system under which pensions are related to career average earnings rather than final exit points. Post-retirement increases in pension will also be linked to changes in the CPI rather than to salary increases given to equivalent grades. All these are clear signs that the Government is introducing sustainable and sensible reforms that will do much to ensure large pensions, which are a legacy of previous and Governments that Deputy Mattie McGrath supported, are not a feature of our public service pension provision in future. Having regard to what we have done, any fair-minded person would see a fair attempt has been made. These matters are under constant review and we will ensure the balance is fully restored.

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