Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank and congratulate Deputy Bríd Smith on bringing forward this important Bill. Its provisions aim to correct some of the anomalies in current legislation by providing scope for redress to affected pensioners in the event of disputes arising or changes being made to their pensions. Currently, the trade union movement is prevented from representing pensioners as its remit is confined to workers. It is impossible to find any reference to pensioners in existing Industrial Relations Acts.

The retirees of the ESB and many other companies and organisations have been wronged over the years by the anomalies in existing legislation. I thank Deputy Bríd Smith for her time and effort in bringing this Bill before the Dáil. The Rural Independent Group will support the Bill in every way possible. We are all operating to a timeframe in this world. Every day that this change is not made is a robbery of those people who have served the country, be that retired ESB workers or any other workers. They worked hard and diligently all of their lives. It is now time to support them when they need help. The legislative changes that need to be made will have to be made and supported by every right-thinking person.

Kicking the can down the road with a proposal to vote on the issue in a year's time is nonsense.

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