I propose to take Questions Nos. 610, 611, 612, 613 and 614 together.
Administration of the Eircom Superannuation Scheme, including the payment of pension benefits, is a matter for the Trustees of the Scheme, in accordance with the Eircom Superannuation Scheme Rules, which were originally adopted under section 46 of the Postal and Telecommunications Act 1983, and in accordance with their Pensions Accord 2010. I have no direct day-to-day involvement in the Scheme. Where there are disputes regarding pension benefits or other pension matters, members of the pension scheme are entitled to submit an appeal under the Internal Dispute Resolution (IDR) procedure in accordance with Circular 16/2020 (“Internal Dispute Resolution (IDR) procedure for pension appeals in relation to beneficiaries/disputed beneficiaries of pre-existing civil service pension schemes and of certain public service pre-existing pension schemes”). I am advised that the former Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources received legal advice from the Office of the Attorney General in 2004 regarding section 46(4) of the Postal and Telecommunications Act 1983 in respect of pension conditions for former Department of Posts and Telegraphs staff.
I consider proposals for pension increases under the Eircom Superannuation Scheme in accordance with section 10 of the Eircom Superannuation Scheme Rules. Section 10 states that the company may grant such increases in such pensions and preserved pensions under this Scheme as may be authorised from time to time by the Minister with the concurrence of the Minister for Finance.
In line with section 2.13 of the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies: Remuneration and Superannuation (2021), my Department seeks the advice of the New Economy and Recovery Authority (NewERA) on any proposed pension increases in respect of the Eircom Superannuation Scheme that have been submitted to me. I consider carefully the NewERA advice and recommendations when deciding on whether to approve Eir pension increase proposals and submit them to DPER for the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure. It is prudent to consider matters such as CPI or inflation indices, public service pay policy benchmarks, actuarial sustainability of the scheme, exchequer affordability, and parity considerations with comparable legacy public service schemes, when examining proposed pension increases.
NewERA provides financial and commercial advice in respect of the Scheme's Eircom No. 2 Superannuation Fund, pursuant to section 20 of the National Treasury Management Agency (Amendment) Act 2014. I can confirm that an agreement to this effect was made between NewERA, the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform and the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications in 2023.
A request for formal advice on the proposed pension increase was submitted by Department officials to NewERA on 17 November 2025. NewERA submitted its report to the Department on 06 February. The proposal was put to me on 12 February and I can confirm that I have made a determination on the matter. My Department submitted a formal consent request to the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitilisation on 13 February. I understand that the Minister for Public Expenditure gave his consent to the request on 23 February and that the concurrence of the Minister for Finance, which is also required to give effect to the pension increase, has been sought.
As the proposal to approve a pension increase of 2.1% for Eir pensioners, for pre and post vesting day service, with effect from 01 July 2025, is currently under consideration by the Minister for Finance, I am unable to comment further on the matter or any aspect thereof.
