Public Sector Pensions
Dail Éireann — 2026-02-11
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Charlie McConalogue (FF), Donegal

I thank Deputies Byrne and Guirke. I have outlined the timelines. While these pension increases were to apply with regard to An Post from 1 January 2025, the agreement relating to the increase was not agreed between the unions and An Post until September 2025. It was only at that point that it was agreed. The agreement went to the Department at the end of October, as has been outlined. Governance mechanisms and the need to make appropriate decisions require that the Department must engage with NewERA because there has to be an assessment in order to identify whether it is appropriate. We referred the agreement to NewERA at the end of October and we got it back in the past number of weeks. It then came to me with a recommendation for approval and I signed off within a day or two - on the day I received it or the day after certainly - as did the Minister, Deputy O'Donovan. Over a week or so ago, it went to the Minister for public expenditure. It has, therefore, only been with him for that length of time. I have no doubt he will deal with it expeditiously.
There has not been any dragging of feet on the Government's part in relation to the timelines. It was agreed with the unions at the end of September and it came to us at the end of October. We asked NewERA to do carry out an assessment and advise us, and we are now expediting the matter. I fully understand the importance for people of having their pensions and getting their increases. I am very conscious of that. We are acting as expeditiously as we possibly can. I have no doubt that the Minister, Deputy Chambers, will do the same and will be considering it now, particularly as it has been with him for the past week or so.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2026-02-11/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-09-14T01:01:02+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-02-11