AGM May 9th 2019

Thanks to all who attended the AGM despite the weather. I hope you found it as informative as we intended. I would ask you to spread the word re this website. Without wholehearted support we are not going to progress. Here is the document the Semi-State group use a “calling card” as requested. Dear Deputy/Senator, … Read more

Joint demands re new pension legislation

Semi State Retired Staff Group Summary of Points necessary in the Legislation concerning funds owned by members of Semi State Defined Benefit Pension schemes. (Contrary to the recent statement in Dail Eireann, these are not Private Pension Schemes. They have all been operated under Ministerial control). Legislation is necessary to provide, on a statutory basis, … Read more

Role of Trustees

A number of members have asked about the role of trustees and this is an excerpt from the Pension Authority guidelines. DC Code – Conflicts of interest. Trustees should be able to demonstrate that they effectively manage conflicts of interest. The trustee’s duty first and foremost is to act in the best interests of their … Read more

Aer Lingus retired staff case

The State used a law to cut payments to retired aviation workers to help address a €770m pension fund deficit and avoid industrial unrest among existing workers before the sell off of Aer Lingus in 2014/15, the High Court heard. The circumstances of those still at work – active and deferred members of the Irish … Read more

Pension Freeze Issues

RTE RETIRED STAFF ASSOCIATION rtersa2018@gmail.com PO Box 12250 Dublin 16 Jan 23rd 2019 To RTERSA Committee In regard to the question raised by Joe Harris at our last meeting and our proposal to ask Mathesons for a formal opinion, it is important to consider any supporting documentation. I have read a wide range of the … Read more

Letter to Editor, Irish Times 22nd April

The Minister for Finance and Public Expenditure, Pascal Donohue, makes a fine case for the quality of employment in the public service. (Irish Times April 22nd).  In the course of his article he writes that public servants benefit from defined benefit pension arrangements. What he fails to mention is that many thousands of semi state … Read more

RTERSA letter to Regina Doherty

13 September 2018 Ms. Regina Doherty Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection Dear Minister, I am writing to you in connection with the Social Welfare, Pensions and Civil Registration Bill 2017, currently before the Oireachtas. The views expressed in this letter represent those of a collective group of pensioners, all members of Defined Benefit … Read more

Pension Reform behind target

Concern expressed for Pension reform as Government misses 80% of target dates set out in Pensions Roadmap 01/03/2019 Posted by IAPF Brexit should not stall the progression of Ireland’s pension reform “Regulation cannot be limitless – it needs to be proportionate and implementable in a cost-effective manner” – IAPF Chairperson The Government has missed 19 … Read more

New Government auto-enrolment plan

Auto-enrolment could undermine pension regime, experts say 13/02/2019 Posted by IAPF The Government’s new auto-enrolment scheme could undermine the existing private pensions system, as its proposal to offer tax relief of 25 per cent is “not optimal” and could lead to tax arbitrage between the two systems, pensions experts say. Some 12 years after it was first … Read more