An Post and Eir pension increase delay 'unacceptable' - Mayo TD

A Mayo TD has branded as 'completely unacceptable' the delay in the government signing off on an agreed pension increase for workers with An Post and Eir (formerly Telecom Eireann).

Deputy Paul Lawless joined retired postal staff, including a number from Mayo, at a protest outside Leinster House yesterday.

Said Deputy Lawless: "It is absolutely phenomenal that the Minister for Public Expenditure has not signed off on the pension increases which have already been agreed for these workers.

“Back in October a request was made to the department by An Post to increase pensions for these 20,000 workers by 6% backdated to January 2025 and for a further 1% increase in June 2025.

“Because these are private pension schemes there is no cost to the tax-payer, and all that is required is for Minister Chambers to sign-off on it.

“I am willing to lend the man a biro if he needs it. There is no excuse for this delay.”

He continued: “I met with the protesters outside the Dáil, and it was shocking to see elderly people with walking aids being forced to take to the streets to obtain this pension increase which is out of date by a year.

“In the news we also see that there's been a pay rise for CEOs in State entities - watch how quickly that will hit their bank accounts, compared to how ordinary workers from around the country are treated.”