I hope that after this matter being raised with the Department by myself and members of all parties and none over recent weeks and months, through umpteen parliamentary questions, on Leader's Questions and in various Topical Issues debates, that the Minister of State has some better news today for the Eir and An Post pensioners. I hope that he listened to the retired workers from Eir and An Post who were outside the Dáil yesterday demanding immediate action on pension increases already agreed and unjustifiably withheld. We stood with them yesterday and listened to their concerns. It is never seemly for the Government to have pensioners protesting outside this House. If the Government wants to do something about this, it is in its gift to do so. The increases have already been agreed by unions, trustees, actuaries and the companies' boards but the Government is sitting on its hands. We do not know why. The An Post and Eir pensioners do not receive annual State pension increases. They rely on these agreed adjustments to meet basic living costs. The Government knows this and its inaction makes a mockery of its stated commitment to protecting vulnerable pensioners and addressing the cost-of-living pressures they face. The pension schemes are well regulated, they have plenty of money in them and there is no cost to the Exchequer. In response to my question on this matter three weeks ago, the Minister said that the Department and all relevant stakeholders "are endeavouring to achieve the same at the earliest, keeping in line with the appropriate processes, compliance with all applicable requirements, and necessary approvals." Are we there yet? It is as simple as that.

Sentiment score: 0.08

I thank the Minister of State for his response. The requested 6% increase for An Post pensioners and 2.1% increase for Eir pensioners are minuscule in the greater scheme of things. We are in a cost-of-living crisis. The cost of absolutely everything has gone up and while it is pennies to the Government, it is massive to these people who served this State for decades. I note in the Minister of State's response that the Department has acknowledged that the waiting time for approval is frustrating for both workers and pensioners. We need to develop a better system going forward. These vulnerable people, who have served the State for decades, cannot be left waiting like this. I urge the Minister of State to do anything he can to get this across the line for Eir and An Post pensioners.

Sentiment score: 0.14