Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent) | Oireachtas source

In respect of the transfer of staff, I welcome that the rights, terms and conditions of the staff will be maintained, including their superannuation, pension rights and so on. That is appropriate. I am concerned that we need to ensure that pension rights will be properly maintained. I am looking at the intersection of subsections (4) and (5) in that regard. The Bill seems to state that the terms and benefits will be no less favourable than applicable, but subsection 4, which guarantees the continuation of pension rights, might be subject to a requirement for consent or approval from the Ministers for Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform. I ask the Minister of State to clarify this. I do not know whether subsection (5) potentially undermines subsection (4).

I recognise that people's working terms and conditions may be transferred because the functions are changing and their roles may well change. I am trying to ensure that those who specialise in geology, geography or the documentation of geographic features are able to continue with those specialisations. There are some very specific specialists among the staff who will transfer. I ask that they do not end up working in filing and we lose some specialist functions or roles, even though their wages may stay the same.