The key sentence for me is as follows:
There are understandable and valid reasons why public servants were given more favourable treatment in the past. The generous pensions were an inducement to some of the best and brightest people in the State to stay in the public sector rather than bringing their skills and experience into the private sector where they could have earned more.
I have always believed that the generous PS pension arrangements arose because Trade Union negotiators were able get them past politicians who knew that the costs would not materialise until long after they themselves had left the scene.
There is no cost to any current administration in agreeing a pension benefit which will not become due for many years. An easy sop to the unions.