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Dáil Éireann - Volume 295 - 08 December, 1976 Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Public Service Pensions. Mr. Dowling Mr. Dowling 10. Mr. Dowling asked the Minister for the Public Service if he will arrange, as a matter of equity, to have all public service pensions including the retired pay of army officers appropriately increased immediately following increases in the public service arising out of the implementation of the National Wage Agreement. Minister for the Public Service (Mr. R. Ryan) Minister for the Public Service (Mr. R. Ryan) 211 Minister for the Public Service (Mr. R. Ryan): No change is at present contemplated in the arrangement which was introduced in 1974 whereby [211] public service pensions, including the retired pay of Army officers, are revised on 1st July each year by reference to rates of pay in force on that date. Any change in the existing arrangements would, of course, have to be considered in the context of budgetary policy. Mr. Dowling Mr. Dowling Mr. Dowling: In so far as retired Army officers have not a pension, is it the intention of the Minister to ensure that the national wage agreement award will be made payable from the date of the award? Mr. R. Ryan Mr. R. Ryan Mr. R. Ryan: The position is as stated in my reply, that is, that any change in existing rates would have to be considered in the context of budgetary policy. Mr. Dowling Mr. Dowling Mr. Dowling: Can the Minister distinguish between pension and pay? Does not the national wage agreement relate to pay? Mr. R. Ryan Mr. R. Ryan Mr. R. Ryan: The retired pay, as it is called, is more analogous to pensions than to current pay, and the Deputy knows that. The improvements which took place this year have cost £2 million and the cost for the full year will be £4½ million. Any reasonable person will accept that it is quite a substantial sum in a difficult budgetary situation bearing in mind that public service pensioners do better than their private sector counterparts in that they are guaranteed annual pension reviews. One must put in the balance the sense of grievance which people in the private sector might have if people in the public sector were to receive more frequent adjustments in pension which would not be available to other people. Mr. Dowling Mr. Dowling Mr. Dowling: In relation to pay as distinct from pensions, would the Minister examine the situation in regard to retired pay, which is a different matter altogether? Mr. R. Ryan Mr. R. Ryan Mr. R. Ryan: The whole question of pensions and retired pay is kept under constant review. An Ceann Comhairle Seán Treacy An Ceann Comhairle: Question No. 11, please. Mr. Dowling Mr. Dowling 212 [212] Mr. Dowling: That is not the point. An Ceann Comhairle Seán Treacy An Ceann Comhairle: Order. One final question. Mr. Dowling Mr. Dowling Mr. Dowling: In relation to the national pay agreement as it relates to pay, will the Minister ensure that those in receipt of pay will get the national pay awards as from the date applicable? Mr. R. Ryan Mr. R. Ryan Mr. R. Ryan: All relative factors will be borne in mind. An Ceann Comhairle Seán Treacy An Ceann Comhairle: Question No. 11, Deputy Fitzgerald. Mr. Dowling Mr. Dowling Mr. Dowling: Arising from the Minister's reply—— An Ceann Comhairle Seán Treacy An Ceann Comhairle: Question No. 11 has been called. Mr. Dowling Mr. Dowling Mr. Dowling: One final supplementary. An Ceann Comhairle Seán Treacy An Ceann Comhairle: I have called the next question, Deputy. The Deputy may not defy the Chair. Mr. Dowling Mr. Dowling Mr. Dowling: I will raise it on the Adjournment. An Ceann Comhairle Seán Treacy An Ceann Comhairle: The Deputy may seek to if he wishes. Question No. 11. (Interruptions.) An Ceann Comhairle Seán Treacy An Ceann Comhairle: The Deputy will behave himself. Mr. Dowling Mr. Dowling Mr. Dowling: I wish for permission to raise it on the Adjournment. An Ceann Comhairle Seán Treacy An Ceann Comhairle: I will communicate with the Deputy. Mr. R. Ryan Mr. R. Ryan Mr. R. Ryan: I will be very glad to help the Deputy. Dáil Éireann 295 Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. Public Service Pensions. Questions 19761208
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