Competition Act, 2002

Superannuation.

44.—(1) The Minister shall, with the consent of the Minister for Finance, make and carry out such a scheme or schemes for the granting of superannuation benefits to or in respect of the members of the Authority and the members of staff of the Authority as he or she may think fit.

(2) Every such scheme shall fix the time and conditions of retirement for all persons in respect of whom superannuation benefits are payable under the scheme, and different times and conditions may be fixed in respect of different classes of persons.

(3) The Minister may at any time, with the consent of the Minister for Finance, make and carry out a scheme or schemes amending or revoking a scheme under this section.

(4) No superannuation benefit shall be granted by the Minister nor shall any other arrangement be entered into by the Minister for the provision of such a benefit to or in respect of any member of the Authority or any member of the staff of the Authority otherwise than in accordance with a scheme under this section or, if the Minister, with the consent of the Minister for Finance, sanctions the granting of such a benefit, in accordance with that sanction.

(5) A scheme under this section shall be laid before each House of the Oireachtas as soon as may be after it is made and if a resolution annulling the scheme is passed by either such House within the next 21 days on which that House has sat after the scheme is laid before it, the scheme shall be annulled accordingly, but without prejudice to the validity of anything previously done thereunder.

(6) If any dispute arises as to the claim of any person to, or the amount of, any superannuation benefit payable in pursuance of a scheme or schemes under this section, such dispute shall be submitted to the Minister who shall refer it to the Minister for Finance, whose decision shall be final.

(7) A scheme made under paragraph 5 of the Schedule to the Competition Act, 1991 , and in force immediately before the commencement of this section shall continue in force as if it were a scheme made under this section and may be amended or revoked accordingly.

(8) In this section “superannuation benefit” means a pension, gratuity or other allowance payable on resignation, retirement or death.