News Archive

Pensions Update

INTO has been advised by DE that the responses are being collated and will be presented to the Minister for Education. At this stage the Minister may choose to review the draft regulations and / or require a full equality impact assessment.  When the Minister has considered the legislation and the consultation outcomes it will be placed before the Assembly Education Committee for their scrutiny. The legislation will then be placed on the formal order paper of the Assembly. The Minister will speak in favour of the legislation and the Chair of the Assembly Education committee will give their view on the draft regulations. The legislation will then be ratified or rejected by a majority of MLAs voting in the Assembly.

The regulations must be approved before the Assembly rises for the summer recess at the end of June 2009. If they are rejected or fail to meet the Assembly timetable then the view of the teachers unions is that the previous interim arrangements must pertain.

INTO has asked for a meeting with the Minister of Education and the Assembly Education Committee to voice our concerns over the draft regulations. We urge members to contact their MLAs to ensure their voice is also heard.

Date: Thursday, 4 June 09