Vol. 503 No. 3
95 Mr. McDowell asked the Minister for Finance the work carried out by the two working groups set up following the publication of the Pensions Policy Initiative in 1998 in which his Department has a lead role; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10197/99]
301 Mr. Broughan asked the Minister for Finance the progress, if any, made by the interdepartmental group regarding the part pre-funding of the future cost of social welfare pensions through an explicit pensions fund in the social insurance system. [6434/99]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 95 and 301 together.
Work is proceeding in the inter-departmental Working Group on the Pre-Funding of Social Welfare Pensions Costs. The group, which is chaired by my Department, has made a good deal of progress to date and will complete its work in the course of this year.
An inter-departmental working group to examine the simplification of the tax regime for pensions and in particular the new personal retirement savings account, PRSA, has also been set up. Work is progressing in this group. The working group is chaired by my Department.
