Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Can the Minister of State set out the timescale to which the Government is working given the last minute manner in which these amendments were brought forward? Is it expected that a resolution is imminent? Other speakers have made the point that the State has dragged its heels incredibly in relation to this matter. Not only have we had the situation that arises today as a result of the unfortunate death of one of the pensioners, but there have been several deaths over the past while. People have been put through the ringer due to huge uncertainty about their futures. It is very hard to take from a Government that was not prepared to put in place the protections it should have following the Robins judgment and forced very vulnerable Waterford Crystal pensioners to take legal action at considerable expense. At this late stage, can the Minister of State provide an indication that we will have a resolution shortly?

To respond to the point made by the Tánaiste before lunch, it is cold comfort to say to people that protections are in place now up to €12,000 and to talk about average pensions. People worked their entire lives with a reasonable expectation that they would get the pension they were promised. While 50% is better than nothing, it is cold comfort to people who had a legitimate expectation that they would be better provided for and who had been promised and guaranteed better pension provision during their retirement years. There is no more time to be lost. We need a satisfactory resolution as soon as possible.

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