Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Does, or will, the economic policy section play any role in influencing the Government’s policy on pensions? There are reports in the media that public servants will take a huge hit from pension reforms which will be part of the pay negotiations this summer. The Taoiseach knows the majority of public sector pensioners receive less than €19,721 a year. In other words, their pensions are less than the national minimum wage. The problem lies at the top scale where there are 500 public sector workers receiving collectively €5 million. Any time Sinn Féin calls for a curb on this, the Government is the first to rubbish what we are saying.

Given that we are going into budget 2018, having already spent €500 million of the fiscal space, and with this particular chicken coming home to roost, will the Government confirm whether it is planning to change the way public sector pensions are calculated? Will the Taoiseach give a commitment to protect the pensions of low to middle-income workers and curb the excess of the pensions of high earners? Will the Government remove all FEMPI, financial emergency measures in the public interest, cuts to low and middle-income pensioners? When does the Taoiseach expect the first report of the public service pay commission to be published?

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