Pension rap for nine firms

NINE convictions have been secured in the last 10 months against employers who deducted contributions but had failed to pay them into a pension scheme.

Pensions Ombudsman Paul Kenny said the employers were primarily in the construction industry. Proceedings took place in Dublin (two), Cork (two), Wexford, Waterford, Donegal, Cavan and Leitrim.

Mr Kenny said the actions arose from failure to engage with the investigative process. He pointed out that at the stage the legal proceedings were issued, he was simply responding to a complaint by asking for information and documentation. He was not alleging any wrongdoing. Nevertheless, Mr Kenny said people refused to either respond to his requests or provide him with the required documentation. “Seeing that in seven of the nine cases, the relevant documentation was given to me either on or before the date of the court hearing, it seems particularly pointless to run the risk of obtaining a criminal record and incurring legal costs and fines when the simple and straightforward solution was to provide me with the information in the first place,” he said. Mr Kenny also pointed out that in some cases the level of fines and costs actually exceeded the value of pension contributions alleged not paid.