Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

This is one of the provisions in this Bill that is highly technical. Given the shortness of time, I have not managed to get my head around its implications in the two days since it was published. By the looks of it, other people have not managed to either. I received an e-mail from the Irish Senior Citizens' Parliament which has concerns. It was advised that it was a technical measure. The e-mail stated that it would like a strong assurance that no adverse consequences for scheme members would arise as a result of this measure.

On my reading of it, it seems to suggest that trustees will be able to alter the benefit paid because we are talking about integrated pensions here and most people are not aware of how they work when there is the contributory pension and the private part of it. If people are not in receipt of the State pension transition, which is the one for the single year, the trustees will be able to reduce the award as if that person was receiving that. Quite a number of people retire early such as gardaí, teachers and soldiers. Is there an implication for them with regard to a pension if the trustees decide with the extra powers they now have to reduce the benefit by up to €230 if the person is not in receipt of the State pension transition? It seems to permit the reduction of the benefit payable to the person who reaches the age of 65 on or after 1 January 2014 as if the State pension transition commenced to be payable to the person from the age of 65. This is not the ideal way to address that confusion. Changes to pension provision in this country should be dealt with in a pensions Bill where we have the time to tease it out and the full understanding of what is being proposed rather than it being an afterthought stuck at the back of a social welfare Bill. I will let the Minister answer and, hopefully, she will be able to set my mind at rest and allay the concerns of the Irish Senior Citizens' Parliament, which also seems to be concerned about this.

See this speech in context