TRYING to instigate a discussion that might acknowledge our looming pensions’ crisis brings to mind those myriad sandwich-board men who warned us all with unshakeable certainty that “The End Is Nigh” — we all know he will be right eventually but we’re not that bothered about the grim prospect to do anything about it just yet. Make us good Lord, but not just yet.

The body that represents the largest corporate pension funds and pension investment managers has said the value of savings held in pension schemes is now higher than before the crash, despite the Government extracting an estimated €2.5bn in levies over the last four years.

The reduction in the controversial pension levy which has siphoned more than €2bn from private sector pensions in the past four years was universally welcomed yesterday.

The amount of money people are putting into their pension to save for their retirement reached record levels last year.

Any change to the marginal rate tax relief in next month’s budget would be hugely detrimental to attempts to encourage people to save for retirement as it would introduce a disincentive to save, according to one leading body.

The increased mobility of the Irish workforce will pose a serious challenge for Irish pension trustees according to the Irish Association of Pension Funds (IAPF).

The Irish Association of Pension Funds has hit out at the Government for hesitating over its plans to provide for people losing out from defined benefit pension scheme failures.

THE Government cannot justify cutting pension tax relief in the budget, according to Standard Life.

POLITICIANS cannot resist expediency. Urgent takes precedence over important. Years of demographic analysis, a Green Paper in 2007 and the launch of the National Pension Framework in March of last year set out our looming dilemma of unfunded pension obligations. By 2050 the ratio of workers to retirees will be 1.8: 1. Currently that ratio is 5.6: 1.

The €1.9bn levy on private pension pots has been branded a tax on jobs and savings.

THE Government is to take €2,000 from hundreds of thousands of workers’ private pensions over the next four years under a new levy.

A BUDGET provision that will allow cash-starved pension schemes to purchase annuities invested in Irish government bonds could be a ‘win-win’ situation for both scheme members and the state’s finances.

DURING the week the Government had a brief moment of clarity and realised the stresses facing the defined benefit pensions sector.

THE struggling pensions sector was thrown a lifeline yesterday after a November deadline for under funded defined benefit (DB) pension schemes to submit proposals to address their deficits was extended.

THE Irish Association of Pension Funds (IAPF) has launched a strong attack on the Government over its failure to deal with the crisis threatening Irish pension funds.

A LEADING pensions expert has called for a radically new approach to pension funding to deal with crisis.

WORKERS starting a pension have been warned they need to contribute at least a sixth of their weekly wage if they want a pension worth two-thirds of their salary on retirement.

The Irish Association of Pension Funds (IAPF) was warned at its conference in Dublin that people are not paying enough attention to their pensions.

DESPITE growth of almost 14% to €72 billion last year, Irish pension funds are still 16% below their 2007 peak of close to €87bn.

FEARS people nearing retirement age will be forced to work longer before claiming their pensions have been eased by Taoiseach Brian Cowen.

STANDARDISATION of tax relief on pensions at 33% could save the Exchequer €500 million annually, according to a report on pensions issued yesterday by the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI).

THE prospect of the state pension not being cut as part of the upcoming budget has been welcomed by the Irish Association of Pension Funds (IAPF) but the organisation has expressed concern over the long-term health of occupational pension schemes.

The Irish Association of Pension Funds is appealing to the Government not to reduce the tax incentives for investing in a private pension.

THE Irish Association of Pension Funds (IAPF) has expressed its initial support for the use of pension fund investments in infrastructure projects to aid the construction industry; but said that the final decision ultimately rests with actual fund managers themselves.

AS MUCH as €30 billion has been wiped off the value of Irish pension funds over the past year and a half, according to the Irish Association of Pension Funds (IAPF), representing the biggest losses ever recorded.

The Government has been encouraged to take a more flexible approach to the pensions system.

CONSUMERS should be able to draw down part of their pension before retirement to fund needs such as the purchase of a house.

The Irish Association of Pension Funds (IAPF) today launched new investment guidelines designed to promote understanding of risk during times of market turbulence.

ALMOST €8 billion has been wiped off the value of Irish pension funds so far this year, prompting workers to consider holding off on retirement.

THE recent report from the Irish Association of Pension Funds (IAPF) that there has been a significant decline in the number of defined benefit pension schemes offered by employers is confirmation of one of the worrying developments in the pensions area.

ALL TOO often paying into a pension scheme is a blind act of faith, like throwing pennies into a deep, dark wishing well.

TODAY’S survey from the Irish Association of Pension Funds (IAPF) suggesting that workers in the services sector might be encouraged to establish pensions, or enhance existing packages, if the process was made simpler deserves thoughtful consideration.

THE value of Irish pension funds rose by 12.6% to almost €88 billion in 2006.

A lack of understanding in investment and risk concepts may be restricting the ability of many pension schemes to manage their assets in the most appropriate manner, according to a new study by the Irish Association of Pension Funds (IAPF).

THE Irish Association of Pension Funds (IAPF) said Government pensions’ policy discriminates against most PAYE workers and this is hampering pensions coverage in Ireland.

PAYE workers are getting a raw deal on their Defined Contributions (DC) pensions compared to the self-employed and company owners, according to a top pensions body.

IRISH pension funds grew 25% to €77.9 billion in 2005 according to the annual asset allocation survey published yesterday by the Irish Association of Pension Funds (IAPF).

DESPITE three out of four workers in the private sector not having a pension plan, the Irish Association of Pension Funds (IAPF) has come out against the extension of the mandatory State pensions system.

EUROPEAN Commissioner Charlie McCreevy and Minister for Social & Family Affairs, Seamus Brennan, who is responsible for pensions, will be amongst the speakers at the Irish Association of Pension Funds (IAPF) Annual Benefits Conference to be held in the Radisson Hotel, Dublin on Thursday, 22nd September.

PENSION funds increased in value by 12% last year to €62.3 billion, according to a new survey from the Irish Association of Pension Funds (IAPF).

CUTTING tax breaks for pensions would be a “major blow” and would put 750,000 people off saving for their retirement, the country’s top pension fund managers said yesterday.

The Irish Association of Pension Funds (IAPF) will host its annual investment conference in Dublin Castle on 12 April.

MEASURES to encourage people to put money from special savings schemes into pensions have been called for by the Irish Association of Pension Funds (IAPF).

The Irish Association of Pension Funds (IAPF) has announced a new Certificate of Pension Scheme Trustee Training. The certificate will be awarded to trustees who successfully complete a special training course.