Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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278. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the position regarding the pension deficit issue facing 5,000 members of the Irish airlines superannuation scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11363/14]

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 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 have recently announced that they have decided in principle on a number of changes to address the funding difficulties. The trustees, who are central to any solution to the funding difficulties, are required by law to act in the best interests of all members, be they active, deferred or pensioner members.

Following consultations between my Department, the Department of Jobs Enterprise and Innovation, IBEC and ICTU, 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 the Panel has been asked to make a preliminary report by the end of March.