Johnny Guirke
Meath West · Sinn Féin · Ireland
“Extending the temporary reduction in excise duty on petrol and diesel is welcome, but it needs to be extended until budget day and then reviewed. In my county of Meath, public transport options are limited and cars are necessity. For families, fuel is an unavoidable expense, whether for a car or to heat a home.”
“People are struggling right now. They cannot wait any longer. That is why Sinn Féin has called for an emergency budget to put €500 back in the pockets of workers, electricity credits worth €400, a €500 payment for people with disabilities and other measures.”
“Since first being elected to the Dáil, I have repeatedly raised water outages in Trim, Clonard and Ballivor in County Meath. Outages and disruption are causing huge frustration for residents in these areas, and rightly so.”
“Just yesterday, parliamentary questions seeking answer on this issue from the Minister were disallowed, stating that the Minister has no responsibility to the Dáil for this matter. Nobody is responsible for anything. Can the Taoiseach commit to coming back to me with a start date for the upgrade to Ballivor water storage project?”
“UEFA defends its stance by claiming that politics should play no part in sport but, hypocritically, has no problem in banning Russia from the competition. FIFA, UEFA and the Irish Government should not have put the football association in the position in which it finds itself.”
“As of 6 May 2026, more than 72,600 Palestinian had been directly killed by the Israeli invasion of Gaza. Thousands of those were women and children. The United Nations and many humanitarian organisations believe the Gaza health ministry’s figures to be a significant under count with thousands of Gazans still unaccounted for.”
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“They forced the Government to reduce the cost of petrol and diesel. They had to fight hard for the little relief they got. Workers have never worked so hard but they have so little. People need a break and they need it right now.”
“People are struggling right now. They cannot wait any longer. That is why Sinn Féin has called for an emergency budget to put €500 back in the pockets of workers, electricity credits worth €400, a €500 payment for people with disabilities and other measures. Going back to the Dáil record for March, Aontú, including Deputy Tóibín, and the Independents group did not cover themselves in glory when voting for the Government's shamefully inadequate measures that triggered the fuel protests. Sinn Féin stood almost alone. Only one left Independent, Deputy Charles Ward, stood with us in opposing those shamefully weak measures that directly led to fuel protests. In April, after weeks of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael refusing to listen, ordinary people rose up in protest and took to the streets.”
“Extending the temporary reduction in excise duty on petrol and diesel is welcome, but it needs to be extended until budget day and then reviewed. In my county of Meath, public transport options are limited and cars are necessity. For families, fuel is an unavoidable expense, whether for a car or to heat a home. Ordinary families are stretched to the limit with high mortgages and insurance costs. One in four households cannot pay gas bills. Some 308,000 people are arrears on their electricity bills. Grocery prices are at an all-time high. A report from Barnardos last week found more than half of parents are worried that they do not have enough money to put fuel in their cars. Real people and families under real pressure. People with disabilities are choosing between heating and eating. Rents are at an all-time high.”
“Just yesterday, parliamentary questions seeking answer on this issue from the Minister were disallowed, stating that the Minister has no responsibility to the Dáil for this matter. Nobody is responsible for anything. Can the Taoiseach commit to coming back to me with a start date for the upgrade to Ballivor water storage project? When will a shovel be in the ground? Previous commitments have not been honoured.”
“Since first being elected to the Dáil, I have repeatedly raised water outages in Trim, Clonard and Ballivor in County Meath. Outages and disruption are causing huge frustration for residents in these areas, and rightly so. Recently, residents in Ballivor went days without water and this forced school closures and disruption to local businesses. Five years on from when the project was announced, construction has not started on the long-promised new water reservoir in Ballivor. Water is tankered in daily. Houses are being built where water infrastructure cannot cope. Uisce Éireann has been frustrating to deal with. Standard responses are being issued days after outages with no real answers for people in Ballivor who know that water outages will happen again.”
“We should not carry on as normal while Gaza is being devastated. Thousands of men, women and children have been killed with no regard for international law or human rights. Refusing to play South Africa in rugby played a major part in isolating the apartheid regime there. A similar stance should be taken in relation to soccer and Israel. If football authorities can act in one conflict but not another, people are entitled to ask why. All we are asking for is not to play the game – other countries will follow – and to not shake their hands or listen to their anthem. Ireland refusing to play Israel would not end the suffering in Gaza but it would be a statement heard far and wide. Let us show Israel the red card and stop this game.”
“UEFA defends its stance by claiming that politics should play no part in sport but, hypocritically, has no problem in banning Russia from the competition. FIFA, UEFA and the Irish Government should not have put the football association in the position in which it finds itself. The issue of whether the game gets played should never have reached this point but now that it has, the FAI needs to take a stand and refuse to participate. The Minister of State and the Minister, Deputy O’Donovan, have said they would not attend the game. The Minister of State said that because he knows it is wrong. Worst of all is the FAI talking about playing the game at a neutral venue, removing the people’s right to protest. The issue is not where the game is played. The Israeli presence is the issue.”
“As of 6 May 2026, more than 72,600 Palestinian had been directly killed by the Israeli invasion of Gaza. Thousands of those were women and children. The United Nations and many humanitarian organisations believe the Gaza health ministry’s figures to be a significant under count with thousands of Gazans still unaccounted for. In 2025, Israel bombed at least six countries – Palestine, Iran, Lebanon, Qatar, Syria and Yemen. It also carried out strikes in Tunisian, Maltese and Greek territorial waters on aid flotillas heading for Gaza with no consequences for it. The decision by UEFA to allow Israel, a non-European country, to participate in the European Nations League despite the ongoing genocide against the Palestinian people in Gaza and the West Bank is disgraceful.”
“Residential places are getting scarce. Respite care is at times impossible to get and independent living is being encouraged by HIQA, yet supports are not available for people living with a disability to be able to live independently.”
“We also need to address the poverty trap the Government has engineered. Ireland has one of the worst disability employment rates in Europe. People want opportunities but low income disregards and poor support actively discourage participation. The Government's approach is detached from reality and deeply unfair. People with disabilities cannot be treated as an afterthought every budget season. They deserve dignity, respect and meaningful support, not empty promises. The Government is holding off for as long as it can with supports for disabilities, hoping the most vulnerable in society will go silent. The recent cost-of-disability public consultation is a delay tactic. The Government knows the vulnerable are suffering and finding it hard to cope with the cost-of-living, yet every individual with a disability must fight for supports.”
“They mean families skipping meals, cutting back on heating, struggling with rent and falling deeper into poverty. Figures from 2024 showed that, even when cost-of-disability supports were in place, one in four people with disabilities remained at risk of poverty. Yet, instead of strengthening supports, the Government has ripped them away. The energy credits, lump-sum supports and cost-of-living measures are gone. People with disabilities are now effectively facing a loss in supports of more than €1,400 per year compared with previous budgets. This is because the budget of last year was not in an election year. The motion calls for basic fairness. Sinn Féin is calling for a permanent and immediate cost-of-disability payment to help people to cope with rising costs. The Government's amendment is disappointing.”
“Every day, people with disabilities and their families are forced to pay more just to live an ordinary life. They pay more for transport, heating, medical equipment, care and simply getting through the week. Yet, the Government expects people to survive on a €10 increase to the disability allowance that does not even keep pace with inflation. The Government's Indecon report confirmed the cost of having a disability can range from €9,500 to almost €12,000 per year. The Disability Federation of Ireland found that households with a disabled member require up to 59% more disposable income just to achieve the same standard of living as others. For those with severe disabilities, that figure can rise to 93%. These are not abstract figures.”
“Every single week, I meet families who are worried about the next electricity bill arriving through the door. Parents have told me that they are skipping meals to keep the lights on. Elderly people are rationing heat all year round. This is the reality of this Government's failure. Government TDs now have a choice. They can continue to look after their friends and vested interests or they can stand with ordinary working people, young families and pensioners. I urge every TD in this House to support Sinn Féin's legislation and provide relief to those who are struggling the most.”
“They are sick and tired of hearing Ministers talk about international markets while ordinary households are pushed to breaking point. The truth is that this Government has allowed energy companies to rake in enormous profits at the expense of working people and families. Sinn Féin's legislation seeks to finally bring fairness and accountability into the energy market. It seeks to strengthen the powers of the regulator, rein in excessive electricity price hikes and ensure greater transparency from energy companies on how prices are set. It also seeks to protect consumers from being repeatedly hit with unjustified increases while energy companies continue to rake in massive profits. For too long, Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil have looked after vested interests instead of protecting ordinary people. They have been reactive instead of proactive.”
“Sinn Féin has brought forward legislation that speaks directly to the electricity price hikes facing ordinary workers and families across the State. This Government continues to sit on its hands and act as a spectator while people struggle to pay their bills, pensioners sit in cold homes and young families are forced to choose between heating their homes or putting food on the table. The reality on the ground is that ordinary working people are struggling. Ireland now has the highest electricity prices in the EU. Families across the State are being hammered month after month with rip-off electricity prices. Small businesses are under serious pressure. Workers are doing everything right, yet they are falling further behind because Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael have failed to act. People are sick and tired of excuses.”
“Workers deserve fair pay for the work they do and safe working conditions. They deserve protections so that if they highlight health and safety issues, they will not be penalised and lose their jobs. Just today, one worker contacted our office and stated how many workers in the workplace were afraid to join their union, SIPTU, for fear of losing their jobs. It is time this Government stood up for all workers in Ireland and supported this legislation, which will enhance workers' rights.”
“Young workers starting off face the same cost-of-living pressure such as rent, insecure jobs, and higher insurance costs, hitting over €2,000 in a lot of cases. This is another cost that the Government has failed to get on top of. We have seen good, decent people protest recently to stand up against the cost of living during the fuel protests. Instead of being on the side of workers - the very people who keep this country running - threats were issued by Ministers who chose escalation over talks. We need the minimum wage in line with the living wage. Further delays until 2029 should be scrapped and it should happen now. A figure of 52% of workers do not believe they are fairly paid for the work they do, and the figure is higher for women and people on lower incomes.”
“While we are talking about workers' rights, we need to look at the rights of workers here in Leinster House, such as the Oireachtas broadcast workers and how unfairly they are being treated while being denied employment protections. I have previously highlighted the poor conditions under which Oireachtas broadcasting staff operate. They are paid a pittance, denied employment protections and forced to rely on social welfare when the Oireachtas is not sitting. They must go from the Dáil to the dole when the House is in recess. If this debate is truly about fairness, dignity and workers' rights, then we must also address the complete neglect of young workers. I want to acknowledge the concerns raised by the National Youth Council of Ireland. It has made it clear that young people are being left behind.”
“They are working harder than ever but struggling more than ever as the cost-of-living crisis continues to bite in housing, groceries, childcare and healthcare. We believe it is essential to legislate to give workers and the trade unions the legal right to organise and to deliver a legal right to collective bargaining. The Government needs to provide that right to collective bargaining through a union and provide unions with legal access to the workplace. A figure of 52% of Government TDs supported a pledge for collective bargaining before the last general election, including the Minister, Deputy Burke. It reminds me of Pat Rabbitte saying that that is what you do during elections, namely, make promises.”
“I welcome all the unions in the Gallery today and thank them for their ongoing work in standing up for workers' rights. I acknowledge the Northern Ireland Minister for the economy, Sinn Féin's Caoimhe Archibald MLA, who is currently proposing a good jobs Bill in the North of Ireland, which represents the most significant workers' rights legislation. As we approach May Day, we are reminded that this is not just a moment of reflection, but a call to action and a time to reaffirm our commitment to securing workers' rights fit for the 21st century. Workers are the backbone of our society, yet here we are in 2026 when the State is awash with money but thousands of workers feel undervalued, underpaid and overlooked.”
“A lack of accessible services locally is an issue that has deeply affected Fionn and has left his mother Shannen feeling powerless to get the system to support him. She wonders whether he will have a school place when needed. What measures are being put in place so children like Fionn with additional needs can attend their local schools and do not have to travel halfway around the country?”
“Shannen is the mother of four children who all have additional needs. Her daughter Evie went to Castlejordan national school in County Meath from junior infants. After meetings with the school, Evie moved to Clonard school, which has an autism class and more resources. In under a year Evie has nearly fully integrated back into mainstream education with access to autism support and she is thriving. Sadly, Evie is now isolated from the local kids and has lost local friendships from a school the family can see from their front door. Shannen's son Fionn is almost four and attends an autism playschool in Robinstown, an 80 km round trip for a child with additional needs. There were no closer options. Shannen has spent 13 years fighting for support for her children and says services are getting worse.”
“This Bill is a significant step forward but is just one piece of a larger puzzle. We will continue to advocate for comprehensive healthcare solutions and robust worker protections. Together, let us ensure every worker can prioritise their health without fear of financial repercussions.”
“While this Bill focuses on specific cancer screening types it is vital that, if possible, we broaden the scope of this leave to include other important preventative healthcare appointments. Workers should not only have access to screenings but also to follow-up care. The ongoing cost-of-living crisis and economic volatility make it more urgent than ever to strengthen worker protections. This Bill helps eliminate the grey area whereby workers might previously have felt compelled to use their annual or sick leave for health screenings. For this Bill to have the intended impact, the Government needs to address capacity constraints and reduce waiting lists for HSE screening programmes to allow for timely screening appointments. Every worker deserves access to healthcare when they need it.”
“It allows employees to attend cervical, breast and colon cancer screenings without the fear of losing pay or facing repercussions at work. This is especially important as we know early detection can save lives, particularly with the cancers targeted by this Bill. We support the introduction of fully-paid health screening leave but we must also acknowledge the cap of three days per year may not be sufficient. Many screening appointments require travel and preparation and if multiple screenings are needed workers could easily exceed this limit. Many screening appointments require travel and preparation and if multiple screenings are needed workers could easily exceed this limit. We must ensure health screening leave reflects the reality of people’s lives and the complexities of healthcare needs.”
“I thank Labour for bringing this Bill forward. As usual, the Government is opposing anything constructive that comes from the Opposition. Paid leave for health screening purposes should be a must for workers. I recognise the employers that already pay their workers for time off for screenings and cancer-related appointments. This is done through their good will. The Government must recognise the significance of this legislation in protecting workers’ rights and ensuring they have access to essential healthcare and screening without being punished financially for taking time off work. Sinn Féin firmly believes no worker should have to choose between their health and their income. This Bill, which proposes as statutory entitlement to paid health screening leave, is a step in the right direction.”
“Cancer patients often leave work during their treatment, bills continue to come through their doors and they have to fork out for travel, accommodation and prescriptions, but they are refused access to a medical card.”
“Money is being spent on encouraging people to get checked, but often, when they attend their GP, they are told that the waiting times for screening are lengthy. Then there are people who are working but cannot afford to go to their GP to get checked. Last year, the Irish Cancer Society warned that Ireland's two-tier health system was failing public cancer patients and they were not getting the same potentially life-saving cancer treatments as those treated in private hospitals. Private patients have swift access to EMA-approved cancer drugs while public patients must wait on average two years to find out whether they will gain access to the same treatment.”
“I welcome the legislation on the right to be forgotten, which in 2022 had cross-party support and was introduced by a cross-party group. I am, however, disappointed that it has taken this long when we see such legislation passed in other EU countries. The Irish Cancer Society has done brilliant work in lobbying for this. Access to surgeries must be prioritised. If one surgeon is unable to complete a surgery, another surgeon should be able to step in. I recently heard of a lady who, sadly, passed away. She was due to get a tumour removed but, unfortunately, her surgery was cancelled due to personal reasons with the surgeon. It was suspected that her tumour had burst. How often is this happening, and how are cases like this being recorded?”
“I recognise the work of the volunteers who fundraise and provide services, such as the Meath Cancer Support Group. I thank those who fundraise for charities, such as LARCC and the Irish Cancer Society, which get very little of their funding from the Government. In my constituency, a service has been set up and provided by the Moylagh JFK 50 Mile Challenge committee, which provides transport to and from treatment free of charge. We cannot give enough thanks and credit to the volunteers who run the service, and those who give up their time to drive the Moylagh car. These volunteers fill the gaps in services and very often support those who would struggle to find help when they need it. A lot of money is raised through charity events, but volunteers and committees now face the challenge of getting insurance for these events.”
“Last year I was one of the first TDs to highlight the cost of the blister packs and how it was going to have an effect on many of my constituents who rely on this service. These are people who may have a disability, Alzheimer's, dementia, and so on. With pressure from Sinn Féin and others, we have seen a three-month pause, but now we need to see a real commitment from the Government. Will the Government completely reverse the health Minister's decision and ensure vulnerable people can continue getting their blister packs free of charge?”
“I want to ask the Tánaiste about the Government's stance on scrapping the cost of blister packs for the consumer. A lady in my constituency said her 96-year old mother relied on her blister pack, as her eyesight is failing and she could not tell which tablet was which. An employee of a local pharmacy said that many of the patients who had prepacked blister packs knew exactly what meds to take. They felt safer knowing all they had to do was look at the packs. Safety is extremely important when taking medication. There will be overdoses and underdoses if people cannot afford to pay for their blister packs. We know how many elderly people and people with disabilities are struggling with the ever-increasing cost of living.”
“In a study of children aged from ten to 14 in the UK, children asked how this was allowed to happen; we were the adults in the room. To not allow this Bill to progress from Second Stage is an abdication of responsibility for our children's future and it will come back to haunt the Minister.”
“The digital world is here to stay. We must make sure the Government plays a leading role with an all-Ireland, country-wide digital literacy campaign to make people aware of how recommender algorithms work and empower citizens to make informed decisions, weigh up the criteria and alternatives to what is being put forward by such recommender algorithms. At its heart, this Bill has the protection of children, who are the most subject to peer pressure and all sorts of influences and recommender algorithms. Big tech companies will exploit this human trait. If strong legislation, regulation and oversight are not put in place now, we are failing our young people and our most vulnerable citizens. I believe we will live to regret that in the very near future.”
“Recently, we had the Grok scandal where nudification of children and women was made public and shared at a rate of 6,700 sexualised images per hour. This is why support this Bill to the next Stage. We know regulation must be imposed on these platforms but we must make it absolutely safe for children. They must have the right to be protected from harm, the right not to be exploited for commercial gain and the right to have accurate and truthful information. The only way this can be done is through legislation, which this Bill does but it needs a little refining before it reaches Final Stage. Sinn Féin fully believes big tech companies must be held responsible for what they produce on their platforms. We also are very much in favour of safety by design practices and full protection of GDPR and citizens' personal data.”
“I thank People Before Profit for bringing this Bill forward. This Bill would amend the Online Safety and Media Regulation Act 2022 to regulate the use of recommender algorithms by videosharing platforms. Recommender algorithms are purposely built into many online platforms. The sole purpose of a recommender algorithm is to keep the individual engaged as long as possible, act as an influencer and prompt suggestions connected to his or her personal search. In some cases, it sets out to shape a narrative and stir deep emotional feelings. The problem we face is how to protect children, vulnerable adults and society from being manipulated and, in some extreme cases, radicalised. We have all read about the online digital self-harm most common among young girls and cyberbullying resulting in suicidal ideation and worse.”
“Insolvency is very often driven by rising costs, costs that the Government has failed to address adequately, such as high gas and electricity prices. This Bill promises that, when businesses shut up shop, employees are not forgotten about and ensures they do not have to bear the burden alone. That is why we welcome the Bill, but we remain steadfast that workers' rights must be strengthened at all times.”
“We acknowledge the Bill is about ensuring that, even if a business ceases trading informally and without going through a formal liquidation, workers can still claim their unpaid wages and entitlements from the insolvency payments scheme. It is about justice, dignity and making sure those who have worked hard, often in low-paid jobs, are not left to suffer alone when their employer walks away. Fairness should never be limited by outdated legal technicalities. The Bill extends protections to the most vulnerable, including sole traders and those facing gender discrimination. We have always believed that legislation must prioritise workers' rights, especially during their most vulnerable moments when a company is in insolvency.”
“We have championed their right to fair wages, decent working conditions and protection when their employers abandon their responsibilities. The cases of Clerys and Debenhams are stark reminders of how corporate greed and tactics such as tactical liquidations have been used to avoid obligations to workers. It is also worth noting what the Fastway workers are going through currently. Franchise holders that operated under the name of Fastway are being screwed. Many of them had vans on finance, employees working for them and huge overheads. They are being poorly treated and they do not know where they stand as legislation offers little or no support for them. Legislation also does very little and offers no protections for employees of subcontractors or outsourced workers, such as the case involving the Covalen staff.”
“They lost their jobs, their livelihoods and their dignity when their employer closed the business and did not have the respect to update them. What is often overlooked is that these workers have consistently called on the Government to stand with them, protect their rights and ensure they are not left behind. For years, workers have protested on the streets, demanding support, fair treatment and that those who profit from their labour do not walk away without consequences. They have called for better protections, fair entitlement payments and the security they deserve as workers. Time and again, Sinn Féin has stood shoulder to shoulder with them, advocating, fighting and demanding that their voices be heard. We supported low-paid workers when they called for fairness, staged protests and demanded justice.”
“Workers have often been left vulnerable, especially in times of crisis. When a business becomes insolvent, it is not just about profits or corporate failure; workers are thrown into turmoil. For decades, workers, particularly the lowest paid and most vulnerable among them, have called for support and fairness from the Government. Time and again, low-paid workers have been on the front line. Those working in retail, hospitality, cleaning and other essential sectors have protested and demanded that their voices be heard. I heard of a case last week where employees showed up for work to find the business they work at closed, with the employer uncontactable. These workers do not know where they stand now and are due wages, holiday pay and fair redundancy payments.”
“Sinn Féin recognises the value of remote work during extreme weather events. While current legislation may not fully protect workers in such circumstances, enabling remote work can offer significant advantages to both workers and employers. We acknowledge that not every role can be performed remotely. Therefore, we emphasise that the legislation should safeguard the interests of both employees and employers. We see a need to establish a fair and well-structured framework that balances employees' rights to flexible working with the operational requirements of employers.”
“The right to request remote working legislation is not just a legal reform; it is an opportunity to listen to workers and employers, learn from real-world experiences and make practical improvements. When an employee's remote working request is denied, we should bring that example forward and look at where improvements can be made. The right to request remote working should empower people to do their jobs effectively while ensuring fairness, consistency and accountability in how decisions are made. It is a chance to strengthen the law, learn from lived experiences and implement reforms that reflect the realities of modern work and modern life. We commend the outstanding contribution of communities across Ireland that have established remote working hubs in local centres, GAA clubs and vacant buildings.”
“A rigorous but fair framework helps to sustain participation in the labour market and supports a modern and inclusive economy. We know that workers face a number of hoops when seeking to access remote working. These arrangements can be refused, altered, withdrawn or terminated at will. There is a practical side to this debate that touches people's daily lives. Working from home has real benefits for our transport and road networks. It reduces congestion, slows wear and tear on our roads and eases pressure on public transport systems. Across the country, people are paying significant tolls, and these costs rise year after year as congestion grows. If people can work effectively from home or a remote working hub, we can relieve some of the pressure on already strained transport and road networks.”
“Along the way, we voiced concerns and worried that the code of practice might tilt the balance too far in one direction and not adequately protect both workers and business interests. What the code establishes is the right to request remote work, requiring a detailed explanation from the employee about why he or she is seeking this arrangement. Some factors that are considered, such as the distance between home and workplace, felt like over-reach and warranted careful review. The right to remote work demonstrates tangible benefits for workers and employers in the broader economy when implemented thoughtfully. The observed complaints are a signal to improve process, not a rejection of remote work itself. The balance between worker rights and business needs is essential. Ongoing refinements are needed.”
“Over recent years, we have seen that the shift to home-based work and the explicit right to request remote and flexible arrangements can deliver real benefits if managed well. This approach has the potential to shape a fairer and more productive workforce with increased morale. Since the right to request remote work was introduced in 2024, the Workplace Relations Commission has handled roughly 60 complaints. That number reflects both progress and gaps that must be looked at and closed. For thousands, flexible and remote work has been life changing. This shift has helped many people to stay in the workforce and has opened doors for people across the country. A right to flexible work is, in a sense, part of a modern economy.”
“What message can I give these parents from the Taoiseach about accessing help for their children? These parents are at breaking point.”
“Did the Taoiseach watch the "RTÉ Investigates" programmes last night and the night before on the psychiatric care scandal? At the moment, I am dealing with families who are at their wits' end trying to access mental health services for their adult children. In some of these cases, the person involved is a danger to themselves, their families and their neighbours. Instead of them being turned away from services when help is sought or sent to jail, help needs to be given to these people. Prison is not the answer. Prison is the opposite of rehabilitation for people with mental illness. They need access to community-based treatment. Next Thursday night, I am holding a public meeting in the Newgrange Hotel in Navan for parents who cannot access mental health services for their adult children.”
“It is time these workers' rights were acted on. It has gone on long enough. We need to know when these people will get paid.”
“The Minister of State said: The An Post pension increase request is currently under consideration by the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation. This is the final step in the approvals process. The Eir pension increase request is under consideration by officials in my Department. It is important to note that the pension increases cannot be considered agreed or implemented until such time as ministerial approval from both Departments has been obtained. It should be recognised that the time taken for the pension approval process is necessary to ensure that robust governance procedures are in place ... Those involved want to know, and we call on the Government to immediately confirm, the timing and method of payment to all eligible An Post and Eir pensioners without further delay.”