Welcome from the Minister
Thank you for visiting this website which provides information on the National Pensions Framework and its implementation as well as the Government’s Green Paper on Pensions. You are very welcome to this site and I hope you will find it helpful and informative.
The Green Paper on Pensions (which the Government published in October 2007) outlined the challenges facing the Irish pensions system in the years ahead, including the sustainability of the system over the longer term in light of demographic change and the adequacy of contribution levels and benefits.
The National Pensions Framework was published on 3 March 2010. The framework is the Government's response to the Green Paper consultation and sets out the plan for future pension reform in Ireland. It encompasses all aspects of pensions, from social welfare to private occupational pensions and public sector pension reform. Development of the framework was informed by the range of views raised during the Green Paper consultation process.
The aim of the framework is to deliver security, equity, choice and clarity for the individual, the employer and the State. It also aims to increase pension coverage, particularly among low to middle income groups and to ensure that state support for pensions is equitable and sustainable. The key features of the framework include:
- A reformed State pension as the fundamental basis of the pension system;
- Introduction of a new auto-enrolment system for employees, with mandatory employer contributions and matching State contributions, to facilitate increased coverage and adequacy;
- Changes to the current system of tax incentives to make it more transparent and equitable across the range of pension provision;
- Introduction of new arrangements for the drawdown of retirement benefits;
- Developments in the regulatory regime for defined benefit (DB) schemes; and
- Reform of public service pension provision; and
- Commitment to the development of mechanisms to facilitate people in tracing pension rights accrued in former employments.
An implementation group, chaired by my Department, has been established to develop the legislation, regulatory and administrative infrastructure required to put the reforms into operation. It is expected that this technical work will require 3 to 5 years to complete. During the implementation phase there will be consultation on the detailed reform arrangements.
We will be using this website to keep you informed of developments with regard to implementation of the framework and I hope you find it useful.
Le gach dea-ghuí,
Éamon Ó Cuív T.D.
Minister for Social Protection
