Averil Power (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I also think it is absolutely extraordinary that in the week when a resolution for the Waterford Wedgewood workers has finally been achieved, members of the IASS scheme are in a worse position than the Waterford Wedgewood staff. It is ridiculous that the Waterford Wedgewood staff had to fight for so long to get their entitlements respected but it seems that the only way members of the IASS scheme are going to get justice at this stage is to take exactly the same route. I think this is such a shame. The Government has learned absolutely nothing if this is what they have to do. We have been raising this issue, as Senator Darragh O'Brien said, for the past two years from the Social Welfare and Pensions Act, the State Airports (Shannon Group) Act, statements two weeks ago and statements again today asking the Minister to look at this, do the right thing and come up with a fair resolution. It seems as if all of that has fallen on deaf ears. It is incredibly unfair.

I wonder if the Minister has really looked at the European consequences of this. I know the Waterford Wedgewood case specifically referred to active and deferred members but it may also give some comfort to retired members of the IASS scheme because it talked about consistency, particularly with cross-border schemes, and protections under EU pensions law. I wonder if the Minister has really thought all of that through because it really is extraordinary that when we finally see justice for Waterford Wedgewood workers, the IASS members are in a worse position. It need not have come to this. When the Social Welfare Bill comes before the House, we will again try to put forward amendments. The whole thing is unfair. Senator Bacik said that this had been taking place over many years. The reality is that, as has been pointed out, the deficit has doubled in two years. There is a legacy issue.