The funding difficulties facing defined benefit schemes in this country at the moment as well as the strengthening of the Pensions Act funding requirements and re-introduction of funding standard deadlines has seen both scheme sponsors and trustees adopt an increasingly…

The Social Welfare and Pensions (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2013 was published on 22 May 2013.

What does the Bill contain?

1. The Bill provides for the previously announced restructuring of the Pensions Board into a Pensions Authority with the position…

The current state of funding of DB schemes has pushed many of the sponsoring employers of these schemes to consider how to minimise their defined benefit liabilities and risks.  In order for the liability management process to be successful, a…

Between agenda items at a recent meeting of the Association of Pension Lawyers in Ireland conversation turned to the type of matters our various firms’ pensions practices are currently working on.

What was surprising was the amount and range of…

After much talk over the past 2 or 3 years, at last sovereign annuities have become a reality… nearly.  This week, I was one of the speakers at the launch of the first sovereign annuity approved by the Pensions Board.  Getting…

Background

New statutory requirements relating to funding defined benefit schemes have recently come into law with the coming into force of the Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2012 on 1 May and the publication of various pieces of statutorily binding guidance…

Pension issues can be a major factor influencing merger and acquisition activity.  Companies may pull out of deals due to uncertainty around pensions (especially uncertainty over the funding of defined benefit plans).  Pension plan deficits are now part of corporate life…