Marian Harkin (Sligo-Leitrim, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for that response but, of course, this is the issue at hand. The Minister is liaising with the Department of Justice and the Department of Social Protection to find a solution to this anomaly. Gardaí who joined the force post-1995 seem, at first glance, to receive the same level of pension entitlement. If we look at what they have to do to receive the pension, however, then we can see where the problem lies. To qualify for the supplementary part of their pensions, these gardaí must exhaust all entitlements under social welfare. This means they must draw down jobseeker's benefit for nine months by signing on in a post office. Many consider that they are being discriminated against because they are not jobseekers, but rather retired members of An Garda Síochána. They have full service yet they are forced to sign a declaration to say they are available for work. Many of them complain about how they are being treated by the Department of Social Protection. This situation is an anomaly. It involves three different Departments and the matter goes over and back between them. This has been going on for a long time. Can the Minister give me any timeframe in respect of when he hopes to deal with this matter in a fair and reasonable way?

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