Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
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46. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider the granting of rights of representation to pensioner organisations as requested by the Electricity Supply Board Retired Staff Association (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16013/15]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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I am glad to say that earlier this year, I introduced regulations and approved amendments to guidance issued by the Pensions Authority to provide for the recognition by the trustees of a pensions scheme of groups representing the interests of pensioners and deferred members of pension schemes. These changes mean that all groups representing the interests of the various categories of pension scheme membership are treated the same in the context of the provisions in the Pensions Act.

You might note that pension schemes in Ireland are generally set up under trust and, in that context the trustees of a pension scheme are required to act in the best interest of all scheme members.

In consideration of these changes, I raised the issue of access to the industrial machinery of the State with my colleague, the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation. I can advise that the industrial relations system in Ireland is voluntary in nature both as regards access to the Labour Relations Commission and the Labour Court. I would expect that any group that is recognised for the purposes of collective representation with the trustees of a pension scheme could seek to engage voluntarily with the enterprise involved in talks or trade dispute with its employees.