Written answers

Wednesday, 7 October 2009

Department of Finance

Pension Provisions

9:00 pm

Photo of Brian HayesBrian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 236: To ask the Minister for Finance when he will approve a scheme (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34912/09]

Photo of Brian Lenihan JnrBrian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources has primary responsibility for matters relating to the state body mentioned, including its pension schemes. However as Minister for Finance, I am generally required to consent to pension schemes made by public sector bodies. The legal requirement usually arises from the founding statutes of the organisation in question. In this particular case, under the terms of the relevant legislation, pension schemes and arrangements for the body in question are subject to the approval of the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources with the concurrence of the Minister for Finance.

My role arises because of my responsibility for public service pension policy and for public service expenditure generally. In this context I seek to ensure that the terms granted by the commercial semi-state sector are not out of line and/or likely to give rise to cost-increasing claims for similar terms elsewhere in the non-commercial public service. My Department normally examines the pension schemes submitted to ensure that they are, broadly speaking, reasonable, proportionate and fundamentally sound especially from the Exchequer's point of view.

In the commercial public sector, employing organisations are responsible for the initiation and drafting of superannuation schemes and for ensuring that appropriate and sustainable financing arrangements are in place. The parent Department, in this case the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, ensures, inter alia, that the superannuation schemes submitted for their Ministers' approval are properly drafted, are broadly in accordance with public service pension policy, unless otherwise justified, and that they conform to the requirements of the relevant Departmental legislation. Officials from my Department are involved in consultation with officials in the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources concerning the scheme referred to by the Deputy. It is hoped that, with cooperation from all parties involved, the scheme will be in order for the Ministers to approve in the near future.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.