When organisations as disparate as IBEC, the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, the Irish Association of Pension Funds and the Society of Actuaries in Ireland find common cause and warn Government of a looming crisis then only a foolish politician would look the other way and hope the problem will resolve itself.

THE clock should be stopped on further pension tax change in 2012, the Society of Actuaries in Ireland argues, saying that a comprehensive and holistic analysis of proposed changes is required.

SOCIAL Protection Minister Joan Burton has said the Government will publish final details of its much anticipated sovereign annuity pension initiative “shortly”.

THE insurance industry has predicted insurance costs will rise for female motorists and male pension policies following a landmark ruling by the European Court of Justice that setting insurance prices on the basis of gender is discriminatory.

THE National Treasury Management Agency is set to start issuing new Government bonds specifically aimed at Irish-managed pension funds, before the end of this month.

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.

EMPLOYERS’ representative body IBEC has called for a meeting with thePensions Board over itsrecently issued guidelines for pension schemes, which have variously been described as being short- sighted, rigorous and intolerable.

RISK equalisation will still be needed in Ireland’s evolving health insurance market to support community rating because the two issues are so closely linked, the Society of Actuaries in Ireland insisted yesterday.

SIPTU wants the Government to encourage workers to take out pensions by making a contribution to pension schemes.

THE GOVERNMENT yesterday rejected a report recommending raising the age of retirement to 75 in order to stave off the pensions time-bomb.

MORE than 300,000 workers face pension shortfalls unless they double their contributions, the Irish Association of Pension Funds (IPAF) has warned.