News

06 Dec 2011

Groupe Consultatif says that consumers will suffer if antidiscrimination goes too far with insurance

Brussels - It is in the interest of consumers that insurance markets provide affordable and accessible insurance. However, if risk factors such as age and disability should be ruled discriminatory, as was the case for gender in the landmark ruling of the European Court of Justice in March 2011, certain types of insurance cover could become unavailable, according to the Groupe Consultatif Actuariel Européen.

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17 Nov 2011

Society publishes Position Paper on Taxation of Private Pension Provision

The Society of Actuaries in Ireland has published a position paper on “Taxation of Private Pension Provision”. 

The primary purpose of the paper is to examine the effect of reducing the tax relief on pension contributions made by individuals.

Individuals currently receive tax relief at their marginal income tax rate on pension contributions.  The National Recovery Plan 2011-2014 proposes to change the tax relief from the individual’s marginal tax rate to the standard tax rate of 20% by 2014.

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01 Mar 2011

Society issues press release on Gender Directive ruling

The European Court of Justice (ECJ) has today ruled that Article 5(2) of the Gender Directive 2004/113/EC breaches European Union gender discrimination laws.  Article 5(2) currently permits individual member states to differentiate between men and women when pricing insurance where statistical evidence shows gender is a determining risk factor.  The ECJ has ruled that this derogation is invalid from 21st December 2012.  

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01 Mar 2011

Society responds to consultation on Impact Metrics for Risk Based Supervision

The Society of Actuaries in Ireland has responded to a “Consultation on Impact Metrics for the Risk Based Supervision of Financial Firms by the Central Bank and on Impact Based Levies”.

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21 Dec 2010

Society issues statement on "sovereign annuities"

The Society of Actuaries in Ireland has issued a statement welcoming the "sovereign annuities" initiative introduced in the Dáil last week. 

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25 Nov 2010

IAA Releases Note on Internal Models

IAA News Release:

The International Actuarial Association is pleased to announce the completion of the paper Note on the Use of Internal Models for Risk and Capital Management Purposes by the Solvency Subcommittee of the Insurance Regulation Committee.

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25 Nov 2010

Expert Working Group publishes Report on Medical Negligence and Periodic Payments

An expert working group on medical negligence litigation, chaired by High Court Judge Mr Justice John Quirke and including Mr James Kehoe, Fellow, Society of Actuaries in Ireland, has reported that the current system of awarding lump sum payments for damages for future care needs in medical negligence, and all other cases where catastrophic injuries are awarded damages, is inadequate and inappropriate.

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11 Nov 2010

Society says that fundamental review of defined benefit pension system is long overdue

The Society of Actuaries in Ireland has stressed that it is vital that the ambitious deadline set for the potentially far-reaching review of defined benefit pension schemes announced recently by Minister Ó Cuív is delivered upon and a new protection system is put in place promptly.

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08 Nov 2010

Sovereign Annuities

The Society has issued a briefing statement on the “sovereign annuities” concept that has attracted media attention recently.

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15 Sep 2010

Submission to Health Insurance Authority on Minimum Benefit Regulations

The Society has responded to a consultation paper from the Health Insurance Authority on “Minimum Benefit Regulations in the Irish Private Health Insurance Market”.

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30 Aug 2010

Submission to Health Insurance Authority on Risk Equalisation

The Health Insurance Authority’s recent consultation paper on “Risk Equalisation in the Irish Private Health Insurance Market” invites input on the risk factors to be taken into account in a risk equalisation scheme, such as age, gender and health status.  In the Society’s response to the paper, we emphasise that decisions on risk factors should have regard to, and be consistent with, the objectives of the scheme.  The Society is in favour of a risk equalisation system that encourages competition and new insurers.  It would not be necessary to allow for health status in such

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