Clare Daly (Dublin North, Socialist Party)
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513. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will meet with representatives of the retired aviation staff association as a matter of urgency, to discuss the IASS pension scheme and the fact that these pensioners are being faced with a reduction in their benefits. [10545/14]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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As Minister for Transport Tourism and Sport I have no function in relation to the administration of the IASS.  The resolution of the funding difficulties in the scheme, which has a substantial and unsustainable deficit of over €700 million, is primarily a matter for the trustees, the members of the scheme, the companies participating in the scheme and the regulator of such pension schemes - the Pensions Board.

The trustees of the scheme, who are central to any solution to the funding difficulties, are required by law to act in the best interests of all members. On that basis the trustees have to take account of the interests of pensioner members in any proposals they make.

The Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation has recently stated that it is actively considering issues in relation to the provision of access to former employees, including retired workers, to the industrial relations machinery of the State under the Industrial Relations Acts.

In these circumstances it would not be appropriate for me to meet with representatives of the Retired Aviation Staff Association.

However, as the Deputy will be aware, an Expert Panel has been established to carry out a detailed investigation of how a final resolution of the industrial relations issues relating to the IASS can be secured.  That investigation will include discussions with relevant stakeholders and has been asked to make a preliminary report by the end of March.