David Norris (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I commend the Minister and I congratulate Senator Higgins on accepting half of the proposed amendments, even though the amendment was ruled out of order. That shows a flexible and positive approach in allowing the Seanad to contribute in this important way to the development of legislation.

I referred to a pension relating to Trinity. I thank the Minister for his response, which adequately answered all my questions. The pension I was referring to was one whereby in addition to our contribution to the pension fund administered by Mercer, a commercial company, we also paid stamps for a contributory pension. Therefore, it was the State pension.

I want to wander a little because the Minister referred to the question of pensions. This may not be directly within the Minister's remit. If it is not, I would like him to take it back to Government. There is an appalling situation involving Independent Newspapers. People are losing vast amounts of their pensions. This company is in profit. I am asking the Minister to take this back to Government specifically because this situation could not obtain in England. In the United Kingdom a company that is in profit cannot walk away from its pension obligations. There is a defect or lacuna in the legislation here. I am asking the Minister, as a matter of urgency, to take this back to Government to ensure that after the debacles of Aer Lingus, Clerys and so on we do not have yet another case of where a company that is in profit is allowed to run away from its obligations to people who have pensions with them.

I am unsure whether this is within the Minister's brief. I know that when I raised the question of the Trinity French lecturer who had a difficulty regarding a pension and the same-sex thing and so on, the Minister said it was not his brief. I understand that. I am asking him to take this business back to Government and resolve it as a matter of urgency. A simple tranche of legislation could close this loophole which is so disgracefully used by bosses against their workers.