Minister for Social Protection is asked to check accuracy of official Dáil records

The Minister for Social Protection has been asked to respond to doubts regarding the accuracy of official Dáil records.

The issue is in relation to former workers of Waterford Crystal and the circumstances surrounding their pension entitlements at the time of redundancy in the early 1990s.

The workers claim that they were offered only one pension option at the time, despite being entitled to receive three options contained on an option form.

The workers assert that none of the more than 400 employees were ever offered these forms, and that no evidence of the form’s existence has ever been proven.

Last week, the Waterford News & Star reported on concerns regarding statements on the issue which were made on official Dáil record (READ MORE).

The workers assert that official statements they have received from Government Ministers and Departments in the past are incorrect.

Meanwhile, Minister Mary Butler has said that a parliamentary answer she received on the matter in 2017 from then Minister for Social Protection Regina Doherty was also incorrect.

“Regina Doherty, who was the Minister (for Social Protection) at the time, said the workers were offered their options, and they weren’t,” Minister Butler said.

This week, a letter asking for clarity was sent by David Cullinane TD to the Minister for Social Protection Dara Calleary.

The letter says: “When she was Minister for Social Protection, Regina Doherty stated on the record of the Dáil that affected workers had been offered their pension options at the time of redundancy. This position has been relied upon by Government in responses to parliamentary questions and in engagement with the former workers.

“However, in recent weeks, Minister of State Mary Butler has publicly clarified that a parliamentary reply issued in 2017 by Minister Doherty was incorrect, and that the workers were not, in fact, offered their pension options as had been previously stated.

“Given the significance of this clarification, and the reliance placed on earlier statements by successive Governments, I am requesting that you now set out clearly the factual position as understood by the Department of Social Protection and the Government.

Deputy Cullinane further asked the Minister to confirm whether the previous statements made by former Minister Regina Doherty were correct or incorrect.

He also asked that Minister Calleary set out the full factual position as understood by the Department, specifically whether former Waterford Crystal workers received all of their pension options at the time of redundancy, including whether such options were ever formally presented to them.

Deputy Cullinane said: “Given that this issue has been the subject of parliamentary questions, ministerial replies, and correspondence over many years, it is important that the Dáil record now accurately reflects the true position, and that affected workers are provided with clarity and transparency.”

A full overview of the Waterford Crystal pension saga is available HERE