Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

The Deputy is making very serious charges about altering accounts and it would be proper for her to deal with the line Minister, who has all the information relating to the issue. She has spoken of the Government collectively signing off the accounts, I presume, as they are not a matter for me. The Government collectively receives the report of the ESB and every other State agency and these are dealt with by the line Minister. This is a matter for the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, and he has all the details relating to it. The description of the pension schemes in the accounts is a matter that could be properly explored with the people having the best information, and I do not have it.

The ESB in general is one of the most robust institutions in the State and there is no question of a hole in its pensions unless everybody in it was to retire next Monday, crystallising the cost. I heard a statement the day before yesterday from the Minister for Social Protection, who is responsible for pensions policy generally, and she has indicated the company is working to a scheme that will have a robustness by 2018. These matters would properly be addressed to the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources.

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