News

In July 2014, the Pensions Authority issued a consultation on Financial Management Guidelines of defined benefit pension schemes. The consultation paper can be viewed here.

Earlier this year, the European Commission published a proposal for an updated IORP Directive.  The original IORP was published in 2003 and transposed into Irish law in September 2005. In summary, the current proposals aim to give greater protection of the pension rights of scheme members and beneficiaries. 

The Pensions Authority is holding a Public Consultation Forum on Financial Management Guidelines for defined benefit schemes. The forum will be relevant to trustees, scheme members, providers, managers, advisers and other interested stakeholders.

The Central Bank of Ireland has published the article  “Reinsurance in Ireland: Development and Issues”  from the Central Bank’s Quarterly Bulletin for Q3 2014.

The Central Bank of Ireland has published Reserving Requirements for Non-Life Insurers and Non-Life and Life Reinsurers (“the Requirements”).

The purpose of the Requirements is to strengthen the reserving framework for non-life insurers and non-life and life reinsurers. The Requirements set out a series of requirements in areas such as the role of Signing Actuary, internal and external audits, reserving policy and issues which should be considered by the Boards when setting the margin for uncertainty.

The Minister for Social Protection is seeking expressions of interest for unpaid positions on the Pensions Council.  The purpose of the Pensions Council is to provide the Minister with advice, information and assistance in relation to the development of pensions policy in Ireland. 

People with an interest in serving in such a capacity may apply at http://www.publicjobs.ie/publicjobs/campaignAdvert/10733.htm

Closing date for applications is Friday, 23rd May.

On 27th March, the European Commission published the IORP II Directive - a legislative proposal for new rules on occupational pension funds (IORPs). The general objective of this proposal is to facilitate the development of occupational retirement savings.

The proposal aims at improving governance and transparency of these funds in Europe, promoting cross-border activity, and helping long-term investment.

The proposal has four specific objectives:

The Actuarial Association of Europe issued the following press release today:

At the request of the European Commission, the European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority (EIOPA) has issued a Report on the prudential regulations and consumer protection measures needed to create a single market for personal pensions.

EIOPA’s analysis has revealed that taxation, social law and difficulties in the area of harmonisation of contract law appear to be the most significant hurdles.

EIOPA has identified two main options for creating the single market for personal pensions.

The Pensions Board has published a synopsis of the main points made in submissions it received in response to its consultation paper on the future structure and regulation of defined contribution (DC) pensions.  The Board received 44 written submissions in total of which 6 were from individuals and 38 were from organisations/schemes.

The Society of Actuaries in Ireland is recommending to Government that a mandatory pension system should be developed over the next 5 years for all workers as the best way of increasing private pensions coverage and improving the adequacy of pensions for individuals in Ireland. 

The Society’s position paper is available here.

The Society of Actuaries in Ireland has today responded to the Central Bank of Ireland “Consultation on Requirements for Reserving and Pricing for Non-Life Insurers and Reinsurers” (Consultation Paper CP 73).   

The Society supports many aspects of the proposals, such as the improved governance of the reserving process for non-life direct insurance business.