UPDATE AND CURRENT STATUS OF THE INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS PROVISIONS IN RESPECT OF PENSION ENTITLEMENTS OF RETIRED WORKERS BILL 2021 (THE BILL)

Firstly, the ISCP would like to thank all of our members and member organisations for your ongoing support for this element of our work. We would not have made it to this stage without your support for our email campaign, your engagement with your local TD’s and your support of our awareness demonstrations outside the DAIL.

It is and will continue to be an ongoing piece of work. Legislation is rarely a speedy process. The reasons for this are varied but the lack of support from the Government main parties is a key component in relation to this Bill. An additional cause for delay is the ongoing conflict relating to ‘Speaking Time’. This has delayed the formation of Committees who are charged with working on various topics and policy issues. One of those being the Committee that deals with this proposed Bill.

GIVE RETIRED WORKERS A VOICE

As you are aware, retired workers have endured over a decade of attacks on their pensions, and all are facing further attacks on the very idea of a decent pension when they retire. We believe that pensions are deferred wages, hard won by a long struggle of workers and their trade unions in many cases. But, deals between companies and trade unions can result in significant and long-lasting changes to retired workers pension entitlements. The cumulative effect of this has resulted in a loss of pension income for many retired workers. In some cases, this has led to pension poverty.

The Industrial Relations Provisions in Respect of Pension Entitlements of Retired Workers Bill 2021 (THE BILL) gives a voice to retired workers over what happens to their occupational pension schemes after they have left their employment.

The ISCP has no political affinity to any individual party, however we have a commitment to support our members to have their voice heard by their local and national politicians.

WORK TO DATE:

2021 The proposed Bill (Private members’ Bill proposed by Brid Smith PBP) had wide support within the DAIL and was deferred by the Government for a year to allow for a consultation process to be undertaken.

2022 Submission to consultation process on proposed Bill

Bill passed its second reading in Dáil Eireann on 30th June, 2022.

2023 Bill sent for scrutiny in the first quarter of 2023 as agreed by the Committee on Enterprise Trade and Employment.

Bill passed scrutiny.

Over the period 2021 to date:

Meetings with Minister Damien English, Minister Coveney and Neale Richmond. (awaiting date for meeting with current Minster Peter Burke)

Presentation to TD’s & Senators in AV Room in the Dail

Campaign to move Bill to second stage: Letter, email and in person meetings with TD’s

Awareness gatherings outside the DAIL.

Meeting with individual TD’s & Senators of the Joint Committee responsible for scrutiny of Bill

Prestation to Joint Committee on the need for Bill and to support the Bill’s progression to 3^rd Stage

Meeting with Minister Neale Richmond on Bill on response to Questions in the DAIL on the Bill

2024 passed to third stage.

Your representatives from the various organisation within the ISCP have addressed the concerns raised by all Ministers with knowledge, skill and expertise particularly relating to concerns on Industrial Relations issues. The spoke with experience to the current ‘ineffective’ systems in place to address the right of retired workers to have their voice heard.

Note on Bill stages:

There are five stages for all BILLS before the DAIL. This Bill is at 3^rd Stage (See 5 stages of Bill at end of this document.)

All Bills that did not complete the legislative process in the Houses of the Oireachtas are deemed to have lapsed, when the 33^rd DAIL dissolved In November.

Bills that have lapsed may be reinstated when the new Government is formed. A resolution must be passed in Dáil Éireann for each Bill to restore it to the Order Paper. Bills that are restored to the Order Paper commence at the stage they had reached before the dissolution. The restoration of lapsed Bills to the Order Paper only deals with Bills that have already been published and started the legislative process in the Houses of the Oireachtas. This Bill has been published and has started the legislative process. Bill was passed to Stage 3 before the last Government was dissolved.

Current Status: Awaiting recall of all lapsed Bills before the Dail. Awaiting appointment of all relevant DAIL committees.

This process has been slow due to the ongoing issue over ‘Speaking Time’ in the DAIL.

All parties have been asked to have ready the list of Bills they are requesting for reinstatement. PBP have this Bill at the top of their list. It is they who proposed this Bill through a Private Members Bill by Brid Smith supported by all PBP TD’s. they can now progress it once the Bill is reinstated.

RETIRED WORKERS NOT RETIRED VOTERs

PLEASE CALL ON YOUR TD SUPPORT THE REINSTSTAMENT OF THIS BILL.

WE NEED YOU TO TALK TO YOUR TDS TO ENSURE THIS BILL IS REINSTATED AND PASSED. ASK FOR THEIR SUPPORT TO

CALL FOR THE REINSTATEMENT OF BILLS
THEN TO VOTE FOR THIS BILL TO BE REINSTATED ONCE CALLED.

THIS IS CRUCIAL IF WE ARE TO SEND A MESSAGE TO THE CURRENT DAIL THAT OUR MEMBERS DO CARE ABOUT THIS BILL AND THE RIGHTS OF RETIRED WORKERS

Please feel free talk to any one of the representatives from the various organisations and he/she will talk you through ways you can help.

Your Reps:

National Federation of Pensioners Associations: John Nugent @ nugentjohn78@gmail.com

ESB Retired Staff Association: Tony Collins @ tonycollins6952@gmail.com Irish Senior Citizens Parliament: Sue Shaw @ 083 8612179 susan@seniors.ie

Retired Aviation Staff Association: Eileen Sweeney@ esweeny1@gmail.com/ Paddy Fagan pj.fagan@yahoo.com

RTE Retired Staff Association: Tony O Connor @ tonyjoconnor@gmail.com

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FIVE STAGES OF A BILL

First Stage (This proposed Bill past this stage)

On First Stage the Bill is initiated. There are two methods of initiating a Bill, introduction and presentation.

“Introduction” is the method used to initiate Private Members’ Bills. Government Bills are initiated by way of presentation; this means a Bill can be published without the prior permission of the Houses.

Second Stage ( This proposed Bill past this stage)

On Second Stage, the general principles of the Bill are debated. Second Stage of a Bill is a debate on the motion “That the Bill be now read a Second Time” and provides Members with an opportunity to discuss the general principles of the Bill, what the Bill contains and what might be included in a relevant way.

THE BILL HAS COMPLETED AND PASSED THESE FIRST TWO STAGES

BEFORE THE DAIL WAS DISSOLVED THEY VOTED TO HAVE THE BILL PASS TO THE THIRD STAGE

We Await the Bills office to set the date for reinstatement of Bill at this point and begin the work of the third stage

Third (Committee) Stage

Third Stage, which is also called Committee Stage, involves detailed consideration of the Bill, with separate decisions on each section and each amendment.

Committee Stage is usually taken in a select committee of the Dáil and a committee of the whole Seanad. Some Bills, generally urgent Bills or those affecting a number of Departments, may be examined in a committee of the whole Dáil.

Fourth (Report) Stage

On Fourth Stage, which is also called Report Stage, amendments arising out of or dealing with issues discussed on Committee Stage are considered.

Fifth (Final) Stage

On Fifth Stage, the Bill is passed by the House. It is a relatively short stage when the House reviews and accepts the Bill, and there is usually little general contribution.

When the Bill passes all Stages in one House it is then sent to the other House for the same process to be repeated. The House in which a Bill is initiated is known as the “First House”, with the other House being known as the “Second House”. Where the Second House makes amendments to a Bill, the amendments are returned to the First House for its agreement.

FIVE STAGES OF A BILL

First Stage (PASSED)

On First Stage the Bill is initiated. There are two methods of initiating a Bill, introduction and presentation.

Second Stage (PASSED)

WE HAVE PASSED THESE FIRST TWO STAGES

BEFORE THE DAIL WAS DISSOLVED THEY VOTED TO HAVE THE BILL PASS TO THE THIRD STAGE