Minister for Social Protection stonewalled Sinn Féin over Waterford Crystal pensions to not 'falsely raise expectations'

Minister for Social Protection Dara Calleary was strongly advised by high-ranking civil servants to decline a meeting with Sinn Féin’s Mary Lou McDonald and David Cullinane surrounding pension payments to Waterford Crystal workers.

Internal documents released to the Waterford News & Star through the Freedom of Information Act showed the state’s pension team was highly averse to a meeting that “may falsely raise expectations” for ex-Crystal workers seeking pension compensation.

The Waterford Crystal Pension Action Group (WCPAG) has long campaigned for state redress following their redundancy in the early 1990s.

Affected workers claim they only had one option regarding their pension - to withdraw their personal contributions from the company’s pension scheme. Workers claim they should have been presented with three.

As a result of the sole option presented, affected workers were unable to claim anything from the Government compensation fund that was introduced when Waterford Crystal became insolvent in 2009.

Waterford Sinn Féin TD David Cullinane and party leader Mary Lou McDonald wrote a letter to Minister Calleary on November 7, 2025, seeking a meeting.

“The workers are now of pension age,” the letter read.

“Some have sadly passed away and are represented by their widows, who continue to seek justice on their behalf.

“Many have spent years trying to have this wrong acknowledged and corrected through correspondence, legal cases, and political engagement.”

In response, members of the department’s pension policy unit briefed Minister Calleary and advised him to shirk a meeting with the Sinn Féin TDs.

Meeting turned down

Civil servant Carmel Dobson wrote on November 14 that the department had received over 60 letters from WCPAG members requesting copies of the option forms they had allegedly signed.

The Department of Social Protection do not hold any of the records in question.

A previous review by the Government Attorney General in 2024 found there was no basis for the state redress for WCPAG members, as the pensions debacle related to the machinations of a private company.

“To agree to a meeting (with McDonald and Cullinane) may give credence to the view that there is a case for State involvement and may falsely raise expectations,” Ms Dobson wrote to Minister Calleary.

“As nothing new has emerged since the Attorney’s examination of the matter, it does not appear that a meeting is warranted.” 

Minister Calleary responded to Deputy Cullinane and McDonald on November 28.

“As you had previously corresponded with me in this regard, Mary Lou, I wish to reiterate the position that based on the Attorney General’s advice, there is nothing further that the Government or my Department can do in order to intervene, and no liability arises for the State in this regard.

“As my Department had no involvement in the operation of the Waterford Crystal Pension Schemes, the question regarding the provision of leaving service options and forms relating to same is one for the former employer and the trustees of the pension scheme, and any queries on the matter should be directed to either or both.

“This Department has never said that members of the Waterford Crystal Pension Action Group (WCPAG) signed such forms - rather the WCPAG has disputed that its members signed such option forms.

“As my Department was not involved in that matter, it does not hold any records in relation to the issue nor I cannot comment further.

“The existence or otherwise of signed option forms does not change the fact that refunds of pension contributions were received and consequently, any entitlements in respect of those refunded contributions ceased under the pension schemes.

“This matter is concluded from the perspective of my Department.” 

The documents released to the News & Star also show workers writing to Tánaiste, and former Taoiseach, Simon Harris, demanding redress.

On November 5, a member of WCPAG, whose name has been redacted, wrote to the Tánaiste’s office: “Could you please send me a copy of the Option Forms where I allegedly signed away my pension entitlements with Waterford Crystal?” 

Members of WCPAG have now redirected redress efforts towards Europe as protests for state compensation appeared to have run their course.

The workers are currently in the process of raising their case via the European petitions committee.