Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

In regard to Senator Power's question, the aforementioned meeting between the deferred pensioners and the export panel was their second time to meet. It certainly was not a cosmetic meeting arranged for the day before publication of the report. The report is not going to be published tomorrow. I do not know when it will be published. It may be next week. As I was not briefed by the expert panel while its work was ongoing, I do not know whether the Senator's observations are correct. However, my officials and I will have sight of the report before it is published.

The section allows the existing staff in the airports and Aer Lingus to withdraw from the pension scheme if they so wish. They will be permitted to stop making contributions and to withdraw voluntarily. This is something they have sought for quite some time and they should be allowed to do it. The section also allows for any agreement that may be made on foot of the expert panel's report to be implemented by providing the necessary legislative provision. Finally, it provides an alternative to wind up if the Pensions Authority chooses to wind up the pension fund. It makes sense to provide for these matters in legislation.