Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 211: To ask the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the fact that employees of Trinity College Dublin pre-1995 have been informed that the State will not guarantee their pension (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the reason why they have been charged with the pension levy for public servants. [12027/09]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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There is no connection between the application of the pension-related deduction in any particular case and any guarantee sought by members in respect of their pension.

As the Deputy is aware, discussions are in train with the trustees and the administrators of the five older universities, including Trinity College, and certain non-commercial semi-State bodies with a view to providing consistency and clarity for the future in terms of meeting the liabilities of their funded pension schemes. In that context, and provided all the schemes concerned agree, it is proposed that the assets of these schemes would be transferred to the State together with the liabilities which would then be effectively met by the State on a pay-as-you- go basis. Legislation would be required to give effect to the proposal.

In line with section 2 of the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act 2009, the employees in question, being public servants and members of a public service pension scheme, will be subject to the deduction.