Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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70. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if his attention has been drawn to the concerns of staff at Waterways Ireland, and also the staff of other All Ireland Bodies, in relation to the proposal to impose an extra pension contribution on them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10700/15]

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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Waterways Ireland, like the other North South Implementation Bodies including Tourism Ireland, operates the North South Pension Scheme.  It is useful to make clear that the North South Pension Scheme, which is modelled on the Northern Ireland Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme, was established to operate in both jurisdictions.   As such this Scheme is unique in covering public service staff employed on both sides of the border.  

As Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, I am jointly responsible, along with the Northern Ireland Minister for Finance and Personnel, Mr Simon Hamilton, MLA, for approving the rules of the North South Pension Scheme, and any amendments which may be proposed to these rules. Review and reform of existing pension arrangements, including public service pension arrangements, has been an ongoing issue in both jurisdictions over recent times, although the details of how this is being done differ. In July 2013 it was agreed in principle to reform the North South Pension Scheme in line with reforms proposed for the Northern Ireland Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme.   

In respect of the impact of these reforms on members based in this jurisdiction, including Waterways Ireland staff, my officials have engaged engaged in extensive discussions with representative Trade Unions at the Labour Relations Commision. In September 2014 agreement was reached on an individual member option which uniquely allows those members an opportunity to choose whether they wish to remain in the reformed North South Pension Scheme (which will entail higher member contributions after 1 April 2015) or to opt to revert to Reserved Rights terms (which effectively allows them return to the public service pensions regime they had previously enjoyed).