Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Senator Horkan for raising the issue. The same issue was raised in the Dáil by his colleague, Deputy Calleary, and at the time, the Minister, Deputy Donohoe, agreed to supply information to Deputy Calleary, by means of a paper to him personally or to the Joint Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach, whichever is more appropriate to discuss and debate it, or on the floor of the House by way of a parliamentary question. It is not an issue. The information will include the cost of the various options if the restoration schedule for public service pension reduction was to be changed, what the cost would be per year and what impact any change would have on the public service stability agreement. Officials in the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform informed me that they have already started work on this. I am happy to commit to provide the same information to the Senator, anybody else who wants it and the committee on that basis. Given the spirit of what has been agreed in the Dáil and is on the record as being said by the Minister, Deputy Donohoe, I ask Senator Horkan to consider withdrawing his amendment.