Sir, – Seoirse O’Tuathail (self-employed) asks where he can apply for citizenship of what he refers to as the “Utopia” of public service pensions (February 18th).
It’s easy enough to apply, but there are some requirements to be met in the vast majority of cases: appointment by public competitive process; career progression by competitive process, in many cases open also to private-sector personnel; appropriate pension contribution payment; appropriate pension levy payment;acceptance of an independently-adjudicated reduction in salary in recognition of security of tenure; some 40 years commitment to public service and to a career demanding hard work, integrity and applied talent. – Yours, etc,