Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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Question 76: To ask the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the fact that being without a further contract of employment in 2002 and thus without an income, a person (details supplied) was obliged under duress to sign a waiver of their right to a pension lump sum in order to draw down their severance payment; if he will take steps to ensure that the full benefit of the 1997 scheme which did not entail forfeiture of pension lump sum is restored to this person; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41059/06]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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The 2002 voluntary early retirement package for staff employed under the secretarial assistance scheme provided that the lump sum due at retirement was incorporated within the terms of the package and staff availing of the package were required to sign a declaration in that regard. This element of the package represented a tax free element of the package and the remainder of the package was also subject to certain tax allowances. This element was always built into the terms of such packages for secretarial assistants. I do not intend to change the terms of the VER package, as outlined in 2002, that will be made available to staff who cannot secure a contract after the next General Election.

In the case of this individual, I understand Solicitors acting on their behalf have been instructed to initiate legal proceedings and the Deputy will appreciate therefore, that it would not be appropriate for me to make a public statement on it.