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It is not clear that there will be any immediate significant legal implications for Irish occupational pension schemes of the UK exiting the EU. However, the effect on the investment market and the continued uncertainty around Brexit is likely to have more immediate and significant consequences for Irish defined benefit schemes and their sponsoring employers.

Many Irish defined benefit schemes are struggling with funding proposals that have gone off or may go off track as a result of poor market conditions. In addition, funding difficulties (and their associated impact on IAS liabilities of sponsoring employers) may trigger fresh scheme reviews and renewed focus on liability (and volatility) management.

Trustees and sponsors will need to consider with their investment and actuarial advisers what can be done to mitigate the risk of continued poor market performance in light of ongoing uncertainty during the proposed transition period. As required by the Pension Authority’s financial management guidelines, an important step will be identifying the main risks schemes are exposed to and what contingency plans can be put in place to reduce any negative impact. A general review of the scheme investment strategy and investment options may also be warranted.Continue Reading Implications of Brexit for Irish Occupational Pension Schemes

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As part of its remit, the Pensions Authority is responsible for the monitoring and supervision of, and the issuing of guidelines or guidance notes on, the operation of the Pensions Act. One of the key objectives of the Pensions Authority for 2016 and the coming years is to provide further guidance for trustees of occupational pension schemes.

At a Pensions Authority Seminar in January, the first tranche of the Authority’s Codes of Governance for Defined Contribution Schemes were launched with the second tranche released this week. There are currently six codes available here covering the following topics:

  1. Governance plan of action;
  2. Trustee meetings;
  3. Managing conflicts of interest;
  4. Collection and remittance of contributions;
  5. Investing scheme assets; and
  6. Paying benefits.

Continue Reading Pensions Authority Codes of Governance for Defined Contribution Pension Schemes

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Where a scheme is operated on an integrated basis, it reduces the pension entitlements of members to account for their State pension. A bridging pension is a supplemental pension which is sometimes paid to members who retire before the age at which the State pension is payable. Schemes may also reduce the contributions payable by…