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

In light of the dedicated service these people gave, all we are here for is to see that fair play is given to everyone who comes to us. This is a very serious matter. The Minister of State said it was before the Labour Court, but it has been going on for so long and these people are so old. They are now at an age when they want fair play. If this carries on for two or three more years, how many of them will die away? Is that what CIÉ wants? I ask the Minister of State to intervene to ensure fair play is administered to these people.

Independent actuaries, Willis Towers Watson, reported on 25 October this year that the 1951 scheme is capable of awarding a moderate level of increase of 2.6% to current pensioners in 2023, without impacting on the scheme's long-term sustainability, and is capable of awarding similar increases year on year for the next ten years. As these people have not been treated fairly for the past 15 years, I ask the Minister of State to intervene to ensure they are rewarded, compensated or remunerated in the same way that all other pensioners of the same grade were in every other department. At the time they started, CIÉ was a State body. Now it is controlled through the Government still being the major shareholder. We have a role to play. I appeal to the Minister of State to do his best for these honourable people.

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