This would have applied only to future accrual and the company pledged to continue funding the existing defined benefit scheme.

AIB's defined benefit pension scheme is set to close to future accrual at the end of December following a recommendation today from the Labour Court.

Its 11,000 UK employees have been balloted on closing their BSPS scheme to future accrual, with results due this month.

The final salary scheme was closed to new members in 2006 and future accruals from existing members were ended in 2010.