James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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185. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of a scheme (details supplied). [22742/18]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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186. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of a scheme (details supplied). [22746/18]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 185 and 186 together.

It is the responsibility of the employer to pay pension contributions on behalf of his/her employees to Pension Trustees. In the event that a company becomes insolvent and a liquidator or receiver is appointed over the company, claims for certain arrears of pension contributions can be submitted by the liquidator or receiver for payment under the Insolvency Payments Scheme.

The Insolvency Payments Scheme operates under the Protection of Employees (Employers’ Insolvency) Act 1984, as amended. The purpose of the insolvency payments scheme is to protect certain outstanding pay-related entitlements due to employees in the event of the insolvency of their employer. These include wages, holiday pay, sick pay, payment in lieu of minimum notice and certain pension contributions.

All such claims are subject to the conditions and limits laid out in the Protection of Employees (Employer’s Insolvency) Act, 1984 as amended.

Defined pension claims have been received in respect of some former employees of McCormick Macnaughton. There are complex legal issues involved on which the Department is seeking legal advice. The matter will be kept under continuing review.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.