Johnny Mythen (Wexford, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The aim of good government should be to formulate policies and legislation that are socially inclusive and based on the founding principle of social protection for every citizen on the island, while the basis of any pension system must be the same, that is, to sustain living standards and protect against poverty. It must be based on equality in closing the gender gap as part of any pension reforms. The Bill follows a simple universal rule, namely, that we should treat others as we would wish to be treated ourselves. This is certainly not the case for those with a private or semi-State pension, for whom the mantra is "eaten bread is soon forgotten". Thousands of retired workers have given the best part of their lives to these companies, helping them to build and innovate for the future, yet at present they have no outlet for communication, no method of being represented, no input into negotiations and no say as to what happens to their pension schemes.

I have been contacted by many retired ESB workers who have experienced much the same treatment regarding their pension scheme. In fact, they have not received an increase since 2010. They, like other pensioners who worked for semi-States, have little or no say in the way in which their pension policies are developed or how they are communicated. What is more, they have no say where fundamental changes to their pension schemes are adapted without their consent, yet these will have far-reaching implications for the retired workers and their families.

The keystone of the Bill is the right to equality whether inside or outside the labour market. It will give organisations representing retired workers the right to take their case to the WRC, along with extending the period in which cases can be taken by six months where a dispute has taken place as a result of proposed changes to their pension scheme. It will also provide for retired workers to have at least one representative on the boards of trustees of these companies.

I thank Deputy Bríd Smith and People Before Profit for bringing forward the Bill. It will strengthen the rights of retired workers, giving them a right to arbitration on the same footing as any employee. The Bill must be supported by everyone in the House. We all know how time flies. Some day, sooner or later, every one of us will be in the same boat.

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