Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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278.To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of the CIé pensions 1951 scheme; if he has considered a recent High Court ruling (details supplied) in respect of this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33480/24]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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From the outset I would like to clarify that I, as Minister for Transport, have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. Issues in relation to CIé pension schemes are primarily a matter for the trustees of the pension schemes, the CIé ,Group and their employees.

Under the Transport Act 1950, CIé have initiated the statutory process by submitting an amending scheme to the Minister for Transport for review. The amending scheme is subject to Ministerial approval, and requires a statutory public consultation process, where any representations from interested parties will be considered. I may therefore confirm, modify, or reject an amending scheme in accordance with the process set out under the Transport Act.

CIé, in conjunction with their legal advisors, has prepared and submitted draft S.I.s to the Department of Transport to give effect to the labour court recommendations for the 1951 Scheme, as passed by a ballot of trade union members in May 2021.

These drafts are currently being considered by the Department of Transport and advisors in NewERA. Once the draft S.I.s are finalised, they will be submitted to the Minister for consideration and pending receipt of the Minister’s approval, CIé will commence the statutory public consultation process on the draft S.I.s.

Further, the rules governing the 1951 scheme are currently subject to ongoing legal proceedings before the Commercial Court in which the Minister for Transport has been joined as a Notice Party.

The Hearing commenced on 24 May 2022 for 4 days. While original indications were that a judgement would be expected in the Autumn of 2022, the matter was deferred on multiple occasions, with the judgment being delivered on 19 April 2024. In his judgement, Mr Justice Mark Sanfey found that both CIé and the 1951 Scheme members were obliged to provide funding to the pension scheme to resolve any solvency issues. Justice Sanfey instructed both sides to consider what orders should be made on foot of the judgment ahead of a hearing date, which is currently being agreed between the parties.