Kevin Humphreys (Dublin South East, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I will answer the last question first. The family will be entitled to what they are entitled to under the pension scheme. Whatever is dictated by the rules and regulations in the scheme is what the family and estate will be entitled to. I have been involved in pension schemes throughout my working life and different schemes involved different entitlements which would have applied for my wife and family had I passed away. Whatever is provided for in the scheme is what the family will receive. The commitment I gave to Deputy Boyd Barrett is to clarify the rules of the relevant scheme for the particular family due to the very sad situation.

I jump to replies to Deputies Aengus Ó Snodaigh and Willie O'Dea with a point of clarification. They referred earlier to the reference in amendment No. 22 to the Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2013. The reference should, as was said, be to the Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Act 2013. This correction will be made in the next version of the Bill. I thank the Deputies for bringing the point to the Tánaiste's attention.

Deputy Róisín Shortall seeks clarity on when the Waterford Crystal pensions scheme mediation process will be completed. I agree that the process has taken much too long. A court case is scheduled for 13 January 2015 and it is hoped mediation will conclude before that date. That is the timetable to which the parties are operating. I hope clarity and agreement will emerge before 13 January 2015.

I hope I have clarified the position a little. If I have failed to answer any question, I will have the relevant issues checked and forward further information to the Deputies.

When I was a child, Waterford Crystal enjoyed a worldwide reputation which it owed to its workers. I hope a fair and just settlement will be found at the end of the mediation process because this has been a difficult period for the workers. Many other Deputies and I have been in communication with members of the pensions scheme. Following receipt of correspondence from some of them, I raised the issue on numerous occasions in the House prior to my appointment as Minister of State. I will press the issue and look forward to a fair settlement being reached through mediation.

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