Written answers

Tuesday, 16 January 2018

Department of Defence

Defence Forces Pensions

Photo of Clare DalyClare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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108. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence further to Parliamentary Question No. 47 of 12 December 2017, if the issue of supplementary pension changes for post-2013 recruits was brought to the attention of the Defence Forces representative associations during the negotiations on the single pension scheme Act of 2012; and if not, if the negotiations centred solely on the career average earnings model of final benefit. [54527/17]

Photo of Paul KehoePaul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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As I indicated in my response to Parliamentary Question No. 47 on 12th December 2017, the occupational pension scheme terms of post-1 January 2013 new entrants to the public service, including the Permanent Defence Force, are governed by the Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Act 2012.  All first-time new entrants to pensionable public service employment on or after that date are members of the Single Scheme.  Under the 2012 Act, overall statutory responsibility for the Single Scheme pension terms and rules rests with the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. 

In the course of the development of the legislation, there was ongoing consultation with the Permanent Defence Force Representative Associations. This included engagement with PDFORRA and RACO through the Permanent Defence Force Conciliation and Arbitration machinery, as well as consultations and meetings directly with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. 

 The Representative Associations made written and oral submissions on their particular concerns around the Single Scheme Bill.  However, at no stage prior to 2013 was the question of ‘supplementary pension’ cover for Single Scheme new entrants raised by the Representative Side as an issue or concern.  The matter has subsequently been the subject of extensive discussions and correspondence with the Representative Associations.

A claim for payment of the Supplementary pension to new entrants post 1 January 2013 has been received under the Conciliation and Arbitration (C&A) Scheme for members of the Permanent Defence Force. The Deputy will appreciate that as discussions under the CandA scheme are confidential to the parties involved it would not be appropriate for me to comment further on the matter at this time.

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