O'Brien, Darragh

Thursday, 23 September 2010

Committee of Public Accounts Debate

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During this discussion, reference has continually been made to legal advice. I wish to focus on the pensions aspect, a matter which I raised in June with the Secretary General and in respect of which...More Button

We discussed this matter in great detail in June. Examples relating to UCD and other universities — with the exception of NUI Maynooth — were provided in this regard. It was clear that prior to the ...More Button

So there was no change at all. It is clear that the circular issued by the Department of Finance in January 2009 — Mr. Ellison clarified this at our meeting on 3 June last — indicated that where ther...More Button

It is accurate. If Dr. Browne reads the transcript from our meeting on 3 June, he will see that the Secretary General of the Department said that legal advice had been sought and that it indicated th...More Button

The confusion was not created by the Committee of Public Accounts. I am using it as an example and do not wish to dwell on the specific case mentioned. However, I thank Dr. Browne for his clarificat...More Button

Is Mr. Costello saying that because of the practise the universities followed there was a compulsion in terms of the granting of added years, that it was not discretionary? The rules governing the pe...More Button

Most were granted added years.More Button

How much older, on average?More Button

If one takes the average as being five added years or 4.2 years in UCD and across the other sectors, that is the average figure based on all staff. Taking UCD in 2009 as an example, at the lower grad...More Button

One cannot have more than over 40 years anyway.More Button

That has nothing to do with Trinity College; that is the law.More Button

New rules.More Button

In the contract.More Button

The added years provision of the scheme remains discretionary.More Button

The added years provision remains part of the 1972 scheme.More Button

What is the position in respect of UCD?More Button

I was speaking of a change in practice in the management of pension schemes. Did the trustees of the various schemes pre-transfer adhere to what they had been asked to do by the Department and have t...More Button

What does Dr. Brady mean by “we would go through each case”?More Button

What percentage of UCD retirees in 2009 were granted added years post-issue of the circular by the Department of Finance?More Button

That is not what I am talking about. That has not transpired. My question is not about the number of staff retiring and I do not mean to use UCD as an example, as this provision applied across the b...More Button

The 4.2 year average includes all staff who retire. Is it all grades or senior grades?More Button

All grades, people who are post-2005 or more junior grades. What is the average for those at a senior level?More Button

They are the more significant numbers. When one considers added years as a one-off cost of €4.2 million mentioned earlier, that permeates right through into a guaranteed annuity for life and the basi...More Button

We are still in agreement on the basis that it has been a de facto part of the scheme rules.More Button

Since the operation of those schemes have come under the Department of Finance, have added years been refused?More Button

Has this area been clarified further with regard to new entrants into the schemes or, in particular, new entrants since the transfer of the scheme? The scheme rules seem to be pretty clear that it is...More Button

And the maximum entitlement is five years.More Button

Mr. Costello dealt with this matter. In the case of a person following on from doctoral studies it is understood there would be a period whereby they could not actually be working or contributing to ...More Button

When did the HEA, Higher Education Authority begin to deal with the matter of the pensions in the universities? Has the HEA any dealings with the universities on this matter?More Button

Due to the underfunded nature of the schemes.More Button

I have two final questions. I will not go back over the issue of the allowances as this has been dealt with in detail today. I presume the special allowances or performance allowances that were paid...More Button

Is there any evidence from Trinity College, UCD or NUIG in that regard? Do those universities look at their peers across the water?More Button

I ask Dr. Brady, Professor Barry and Dr. Browne to comment. There is a view abroad or here that our university lecturers have less contact time than their counterparts in other countries. That is wh...More Button

I do not know whether Professors McCraith and Hughes want to contribute. One of the reasons I asked about this is that it is linked to monitoring. One can spend all day every day monitoring but grea...More Button

Last Updated: 14/07/2011 16:59:21 First Page Previous Page Page of 3 Next Page Last Page