Arthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 31: To ask the Minister for Transport if he intends to make the honouring of pension commitments to former staff part of the conditions of sale in the event of Aer Lingus being sold. [35797/05]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The Irish airlines (general employees) superannuation scheme, established in 1954, is a multi-employer scheme which, in addition to Aer Lingus and the Dublin Airport Authority, formerly Aer Rianta, also includes a private sector company, SR Technics, formerly FLS Aerospace/Team Aer Lingus.

Pension entitlements for employees of commercial State bodies, including Aer Lingus and the Dublin Airport Authority, are matters primarily for the trustees, the members of the relevant scheme and the company or companies involved. The State is not involved in the funding of these schemes.

Following the Government decision of 18 May 2005 to allow the sale of a majority shareholding in Aer Lingus, the Government's advisers are examining a range of issues impacting on a possible third party investment in Aer Lingus. In examining the pensions issue, the Government advisers will take account of the most recent valuation of the scheme carried out earlier this year.

The Minister for Finance and myself will consider all of the issues involved when the report from the Government advisers is received.