Sinn Féin spokesperson for Employment Affairs & Social Protection John Brady TD has called on Government to explain their decision to walk away from talks with trade unions on pensions for Community Employment Supervisors.

Teachta Brady said:

“It is now 11 years since the Labour Court made a recommendation that an agreed pension scheme for CE Supervisors should be put in place by the State.

“That means 11 years of CE Supervisors retiring from their job without the occupational pension recommended by the labour relations machinery of the State.

“I welcomed Minister Doherty coming to the table with Minister Donohue to engage with representatives of CE Supervisors. It was believed that these talks would continue until an agreement was reached, once and for all.

“Instead, we now have a situation where both Ministers have walked away from the talks process and reneged on their commitment to bring forward their proposals to resolve the matter.

“We need to know why the Ministers have removed themselves from this process and how they now intend to reach a conclusion if they refuse to be in the room. This matter cannot be allowed to drag on anymore, CE Supervisors have waited 11 years too long.

“I am calling on Minister Doherty to keep her word and to engage in good faith with representatives of CE Supervisors. The Labour Court recommendation from 2008 must be implemented now.”