Barry Heneghan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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259. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 828 of 25 February 2025, if the exclusion of retired medical scientists from the Labour Court recommended pay adjustments is consistent with past practice on pension parity for retired public servants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [68867/25]

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy may be aware, I have overarching responsibility for public service pensions policy, including in relation to pension increases in the public service.

Officials from my Department represented the Government in the national pay talks in the WRC in 2023 and 2024. The subsequently ratified Public Service Agreement 2024-2026 provided for a number of industrial relations issues to be resolved. This included the implementation of a Labour Court Recommendation from June 2023 in respect of Medical Laboratory Scientists. This was implemented with effect 1 January 2024 and applied to those serving in the grade on that date. It does not apply to anyone who retired or resigned prior to the effective date.

A notional payscale is maintained for retirees prior to 1 January 2024 date so that they will continue to benefit from general round increases in their pension. This is in line with the policy of pay parity as set out in the Letter to Personnel Officers of 24 September 2024.