Minister Humphreys addresses inaugural meeting of the
Pensions Commission
Wednesday, 25 November 2020
Minister for Social Protection, Heather Humphreys TD, today addressed members of the newly established Pensions Commission at its inaugural meeting.
Establishment of the Commission was approved by Government earlier this month, in fulfilment of a Programme for Government commitment.
The Commission will examine sustainability and eligibility issues in respect of State Pension arrangements and will outline options for the Government to address issues such as qualifying age, contribution rates, total contributions and eligibility requirements.
More broadly, it will also consider the issue of retirement ages in employment contracts and consider how the pension system can further accommodate carers.
The commission, chaired by Ms Josephine Feehily, comprises of six women and five men.
The Commission represent the wide range of expertise and stakeholder representation necessary to examine the complex public and social policy issues involved.
This includes representation of workers, employers, civil society, academics and those with technical and policy expertise.
Speaking after the meeting, Minister Humphreys said:
“I was very pleased to attend this first meeting of the Pensions Commission. The mix of knowledge and experience brought by the membership will be extremely important in developing credible options for the Government to consider.
“I am also delighted that six of the eleven members are women – representing a good gender balance.
“The Commission has both my and my Department’s full support and I know under Josephine’s leadership the members will approach this important body of work with focus, energy and vigour.”
The Chair of the Pensions Commission, Ms. Josephine Feehily, said
“The Commission started its work today on an important area of public policy which affects people’s lives.
“The terms of reference for our work are challenging given the timeframes and the complexity of issues to be examined. I would like to thank Members for giving their time and expertise and I look forward to working productively.”
The Commission will submit a report on its work, findings, options and recommendations to the Minister by 30 June 2021.
ENDS