Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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812. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to address the concerns raised by former ESB workers in relation to pension issues (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29864/19]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy will appreciate that I am unable to comment or intervene on issues relating to a particular pension scheme.  

My Department has no role in setting the level of pension increases received by members of occupational pension schemes.  Pension increases are entirely a matter for the scheme trustees and the sponsoring employer.  Matters directly related to the ESB Group come under the remit of the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment.

Trustees of occupational pension schemes have duties and responsibilities under the Pensions Act 1990, as amended, under trust law and under other relevant legislation.  The duties of pension scheme trustees include administering a scheme in accordance with the law and the terms of the trust deed and rules as well as ensuring compliance with the requirements that apply to these schemes.  Trustees must act in the best financial interests of the scheme members, whether active, deferred or retired, and must serve all beneficiaries of the scheme impartially.  If there is a conflict of interest then a person’s duty as a trustee must take precedence over other interests.

Any questions relating to access to the State's industrial relations mechanisms is a matter for the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.