Emer Higgins (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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258. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he intends to backdate the pension payments of those who were retired during the banking collapse of 2007 and 2008 and who had their pension cut due to austerity measures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61678/22]

Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Public Service Pension Reduction (PSPR) was introduced on 1 January 2011 under the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (FEMPI) Act 2010 and extended via the FEMPI Act 2013. It was the only measure that decreased the actual pay-out value of public service pensions in payment as part of the Government’s programme of emergency measures introduced to address the serious position of public finances.

PSPR was applied in a progressive manner, operating by way of percentage reduction to pensions above specified exemption thresholds, with larger reductions imposed on relatively higher value pensions.

PSPR was significantly reduced in each of the years 2016 – 2020, by way of changes to the exemption thresholds and percentage reductions applicable. From 1 January 2020, an estimated 97% plus of public service pensions were free from PSPR and it was removed from those pensions still impacted by it from 1 July 2021.

While in place, PSPR applied to public service pensions in payment only, as defined under the FEMPI Act 2010. It did not extend to pension benefits of staff employed in the commercial state bodies listed in the Schedule of that Act.

Further to recent correspondence, I understand the Deputy is referring specifically to the pension benefits of a former RTE employee who would therefore not have been impacted by PSPR. The Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Ms Catherine Martin TD, has policy responsibility for RTE pensions and would be better placed to address the Deputy’s question.