Dublin City Cllr Mary Fitzpatrick today commented on the ‘unfair and inequitable’ increase in Aer Lingus’ CEO’s pension contribution which could have been avoided if the Government had taken action to support vulnerable workers’ pensions.

The leader of the Fianna Fáil Group on Dublin City Council, Cllr Fitzpatrick said “The Government’s decision to vote against increasing Mr Muller’s pension to 40% of his basic salary of €175,000 yesterday is too little, too late.  Cllr Fitzpatrick continued, “In 2013 the Government voted down a Fianna Fáil amendment to the Social Welfare Pensions bill which would have prevented a profitable and solvent company such as Aer Lingus walking away from a pension deficit unless it brought a scheme to a minimum 90% funding.  As a consequence today many deferred pensioners face a cut of up to 50% in their pension, this is most certainly not an equitable solution”.

Cllr Fitzpatrick continued “The Government’s belated decision to vote against the proposed increased remuneration package of 40% Christoph Müller is a recognition both of its excessive nature and the sheer insensitivity of it considering the fears amongst current and former staff regarding their future pensions”.  Cllr Fitzpatrick concluded “The independent review panel which has been set up to examine the future of the pension scheme should fully engage with all stakeholders including deferred pensioners to achieve a fair and equitable solution for all workers”.