Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein)
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Question 25: To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his views that it is acceptable for former Ministers to receive Oireachtas pensions while being employed by an EU institution or the State; and the legislative measures that he will take to end this practice. [35178/11]

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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The payment of a ministerial pension to former members of the Oireachtas who are employed by an EU institution or the State is in accordance with the rules of the relevant pension scheme.

A number of reforms have been introduced in relation to Public Service pension entitlements. The Deputy will be aware that under the Public Service Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2004 ministerial pensions will not be payable to new Oireachtas members before 65 years of age.

I should also point out that under the Oireachtas (Allowances to Members) and Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices Act 2009 ministerial pensions are no longer payable to sitting members of the Oireachtas following the recent elections, or to Members of the European Parliament following the next elections to the Parliament.

Public service pensions for former Ministers retiring after February 2012 will be reduced in line with the substantial pay reductions applied under the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest

Acts. I intend to publish very shortly the Bill which will set out the legislative basis for the additional reduction which the members of the new Government accepted on taking Office. For those who retire before the end of February next, the Public Service Pension Reduction will apply.

The Programme for Government commits the Government to further reforms in this whole area. The Deputy will know that I have recently announced significant changes to the pension arrangements for future Secretaries General appointed under TLAC terms. Furthermore, the new single pension scheme for the Public Service will, on its introduction, bring further significant changes to the pension arrangements of new entrants to the Public Service, including members of the Oireachtas.