Paul McAuliffe (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

On a wider point than just the CE pensions, the real problem with the CE schemes is the nature of them being independent limited companies. In many ways, it is a little bit of a corporate governance black hole. The Department is effectively the shadow director, the funder and the real decision maker and CE supervisors are often one-man or one-woman shows. They have little support and the board of directors is often there in name only.

Equally, some schemes are used by large charities to do vital fundraising work. These charities, however, do not provide CE supervisors with the same terms and conditions as their other workers.

Finally, and more crucially, many CE schemes simply provide what I believe to be State services, such as meals on wheels or crèche places in disadvantaged areas. These people are effectively public servant employees using manufactured limited companies to reduce employment costs and the sad thing is, they are providing them at a fraction of the cost that a public or private sector provider would. The least they deserve is the odd pay rise and a decent pension gratuity or pension scheme to which they can contribute.

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