Govt Needs to Move Urgently on Proposals for Aer Lingus Pensions – Dooley

Fianna Fáil Spokesperson on Transport, Tourism and Sport, Timmy Dooley TD, says management at Aer Lingus must quickly come forward with realistic funding proposals to bridge the €750 million deficit in their pension scheme.

Deputy Dooley was reacting to the announcement today that the Pensions Board has rejected the suite of measures drawn up by Aer Lingus for current and former workers at the company as well as staff at Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) and SR Technics.

“The rejection by the Pensions Board of the Aer Lingus proposals has again highlighted the significant problems that exist for Aer Lingus in terms of their pension scheme deficit,” said Deputy Dooley.

“There is now an added onus on management at Aer Lingus to quickly come forward with alternative and realistic measures to bridge the deficit. It took three years for the rejected proposals to be produced but it cannot take the same amount of time again. The company is in possession of significant information and alternatives that would have been discussed, these alternatives must now be looked at again.

“Minster Leo Varadkar also has a major role to play in this process. The information is there and realistic proposals are needed that address the multi-faceted nature of the pensions deficit. As the owner of the DAA and a significant shareholder in Aer Lingus, the Government must ensure this is dealt with urgently. The Minister needs to put pressure on Aer Lingus management to speed up this process.

“Staff in all three companies are entitled to know what effect the pension deficit will have on their income. We cannot be left with a further prolonged period of uncertainty and there is also a real threat of industrial unrest.

“This uncertainty has gone on for too long; current and former staff are still in limbo and they deserve answers.”