Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 214: To ask the Minister for Finance if he will clarify a matter (details supplied). [15032/10]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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In Budget 2010, I announced that I was taking steps to avoid an unmanageable increase in the number of retirements this year. Accordingly, the legislation on pay reductions – the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest [No 2] Act 2009 - stipulated that any retirements in 2010 would be on the basis of the pre-cut pay terms to avoid a large and increase in the number of retirements before the end of last year. The statute gives me powers to extend the period by statutory instrument.

This issue has also been considered as part of the present discussions with the public service unions on a new national pay framework. The draft Public Service Agreement 2010-14 states that "There will be an extension of the period by a year within which the 2010 pay reductions will be disregarded for the purposes of calculating Public Service pension entitlements."