The Pensions Board has singled out the construction industry as the worst offender for not paying employees’ pension contributions into their pension funds.

Companies can ill afford to ignore the scathing criticism by the Pensions Board of the poor level of pension administration which it says is a form of neglect which can put the well-being of thousands of pensioners at risk.

Some states in the US have relaxed their marijuana laws, despite the federal government still refusing to co-operate or provide any support, reports John Riordan

Henry Sinnott powered Baltinglass into the Wicklow SFC semi-finals yesterday with his three goals setting up a decisive 3-10 to 1-5 win over An Tochar at Aughrim.

The Irish Pensions Board warned that pension fund trustees face criminal liability if found to be in breach of their statutory duties as it revealed 80% of schemes are in deficit.

Four out of every five defined benefit pension schemes are in deficit, with a number of them unlikely to survive under new statutory rules, according to the chief executive of the Pensions Board, Brendan Kennedy.

The Pensions Board have expressed serious concern over the declining number of occupational pensions.

The Pensions Board has given company pension schemes running at a deficit until the end of this year to come up with a viable long-term survival plan.

ANNUAL contributions by employers and employees to private pension schemes will be wiped out in many cases over the next four years to pay for the Government’s controversial pension levy, according to the Pensions Board.

THREE out of four defined benefit pension schemes are in deficit and those paying into them risk receiving less than they expected because of failures to reduce the exposure of such funds to equity markets.

EIGHT defined benefit pension schemes closed down last year and more closures are expected by year’s end – with as many as 75% of schemes in deficit, according to the Pensions Board.

Around three-quarters of workers with guaranteed pension payouts are investing in funds which are losing money, experts revealed today.

FOUR out of five defined benefit pension schemes were in deficit at the end of 2009 as investments and funding proved “too aggressive”.

PENSION funds have suffered greater losses in Ireland than in any other EU country because of a “cultural over-reliance” on investing them in stocks, shares and properties.

THE Government is unlikely to introduce any pension protection fund for workers despite official estimates that 90% of defined benefit pension schemes are presently underfunded.

OVER 150 construction companies are being investigated by the Pensions Board over their alleged failure to pay pension contributions from employees into the industry’s pension scheme.

More than 200 investigations are under way into construction companies that have kept money from employees earmarked for pension funds, it emerged today.

The Pensions Board has said "serious losses" were sustained by Irish pension schemes last year and that "the experience of 2008 was worse than it could, or should, have been".

The Pensions Board has successfully taken a case to the High Court, applying for an order directing an employer to pay arrears of contributions to a pension scheme.

David Malone has been appointed as the new head of Information Services by the Pensions Board.

THE Pensions Board yesterday published detailed checklists that pension trustees and employers must obey if they wish to avoid on-the-spot fines of €2,000.

Avondale United have won the FAI Intermediate Cup.

BANGOR Celtic goalkeeper Brendan Kennedy hopes his League of Ireland experience can help the south Dublin club claim their first FAI Carlsberg Intermediate Cup title at Turner’s Cross tomorrow.

AVONDALE United manager, John Caulfield, reckons his team possess the hunger to repeat the glory of 2006 and retain the FAI Carlsberg Intermediate Cup against first-time finalists, Bangor Celtic, at Turner’s Cross tomorrow (kick-off 3pm).

The Pensions Board is urging consumers to ensure that they are contributing adequately to their pension.

A new multi-lingual online pensions calculator has been launched for immigrants on pensionsboard.ie, with information in Arabic, Chinese, Spanish, French, Polish and Russian.

THE Pensions Board has called on SSIA holders to address their pension provision with their SSIA savings.

ON Monday, the Minister for Social and Family Affairs announced details of the Pensions Awareness Campaign 2007.

SSIA HOLDERS are being encouraged to use their savings to take out pensions in a bid to defuse a looming pensions crisis.

SSIA holders should continue saving by opening up a pension, Minister for Social Affairs Seamus Brennan said today.

DERRY CITY’S chase of league leaders Shelbourne continues tonight when they make the long trip to Waterford in search of another vital three points against the league’s bottom side.

Kildare County 0 Bray Wanderers 1

Dublin City 1 Shamrock Rovers 1 (Dublin City win 3-2 on aggregate)

Relegated Dublin City have added more players to their squad for 2005 and a new assistant for manager Dermot Keely.

Derry City winger Gareth McGlynn is a doubt for tonight’s FAI Cup quarter-final against Kildare County at the Brandywell (7.45pm).

Dublin City chief executive Ronan Seery has backed manager Roddy Collins’ decision to put 15 of his first-team squad on the transfer list.

Sean Francis has left Longford Town for First Division promotion contenders Kildare County, who also tied up a move for Dublin City goalkeeper Brendan Kennedy.

Dublin City will have new goalkeeper Barry Ryan in the squad traveling to the south east tonight to take on Waterford United at the RSC.

Dublin City 0 Shamrock Rovers 4

Derry finally ended their 7-match goal famine by scoring twice inside the opening 20 minutes to leave Vikings four points adrift at the foot of the table.

CALLING on a wealth of experience, Nenagh came out on top in an all-Tipperary final to the BMW Irish Mixed Foursomes Munster final at Muskerry on Saturday, defeating Clonmel 3/2 in the decider.

Dublin City will be without two top players as they host unbeaten First Division table toppers Waterford United tomorrow at the Morton Stadium in Santry at 2pm.

UCD cruised into the quarter-finals of the FAI Carlsberg Cup with this easy win over non-league Orchard.