Labour Court says no early retirement payment arose for former Fine Gael press officer

The Labour Court recommended that no voluntary early retirement payment arose for an unnamed press officer employed by the Office Of The Houses Of The Oireachtas and assigned to Fine Gael. The recommendation was signed on 26 November 2004. The worker’s union, the National Union of Journalists, said he had provisionally applied for the scheme and was entitled to payment. Management said he was not entitled and had resigned voluntarily. The Court said the scheme deadline was extended while Fine Gael awaited its staffing allocation. The worker remained on the payroll through June and October 2002, then resigned in January 2003; the Court concluded that the payment did not arise.