Gerard Craughwell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for that comprehensive reply. Whether we like it or not, the bucking about that has taken place with State pensions has been an issue. I will be submitting another Commencement matter on the post-2013 pension, in respect of which I hear from public servants in all aspects of public life that they no longer want to work in the public service. The single pension Act is detrimental to them. However, that is for another day.

I know the Minister of State and know he does not want former members of the Garda standing out in a dole queue in Dún Laoghaire, lying that they are available for work when they are not. We should kick in the supplementary element straightaway. If somebody says they do not want to work, they should not have to go to the Department of Social Protection. The third element of the pension should kick in straightaway and the individual should be given the full supplementary pension without having to go to the Department of Social Welfare.

The Minister of State said this morning that his officials are examining this matter. Could we have an answer as quickly as possible? What is happening is grossly unfair to members who have served this country loyally in uniform down through the years. I am aware that the Minister of State inherited this problem. The guys who brought it in all walked away with their full public service pensions, having decimated the rest of us in public service.