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Departmental Policies

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 March 2022

Tuesday, 22 March 2022

Questions (643)

Catherine Connolly

Question:

643. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of the implementation of recommendation 11 of the report by the Joint Committee on Social Protection, Community and Rural Development and the Islands titled Response to the Report of the Commission on Pensions, February 2022; the details of any analysis carried out by her Department of the mechanisms to ensure gender equality with regard to State pension entitlements; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14937/22]

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Written answers

The Pensions Commission’s Report was published on 7th October 2021.  It established that the current State Pension system is not sustainable into the future and that changes are needed.  The report set out a wide range of recommendations in relation to the State Pension system and the Social Insurance Fund.

There was strong female representation on the Pensions Commission.  7 out of 11 members were women.  The Commission, with its gender-balanced membership and extensive experience of social and public policy, was well equipped to grasp the potential impacts of any pensions reform options on affected groups, such as women, low-income workers, and young people.  The Commission also undertook a very extensive consultation process.

All of the proposals in the Commission’s Report were gender, equality and poverty proofed in order to ensure that :

- Policies do not create or exacerbate equality gaps;

- Policies take account of the needs of each of the affected groups and its members;

- Where possible, policies promote equality.

These impacts are included in relevant chapters of the Pensions Commission's report.  An overview of the approach and a summary table of considerations, including policy proposals that the Commission did not progress, are included in the report.

While the Commission considered impacts of its proposals throughout its work, a comprehensive gender and equality proofing process can only be fully undertaken at the time of implementation.  Therefore, the Commission has recommended that any of the proposals that are progressed by Government are subject to further gender, equality and poverty proofing.

The Department of Social Protection has already committed in the National Strategy for Women and Girls to gender-proof pensions policy reforms.  Every year, the Department carries out a range of social impact assessments on the welfare measures contained in the Budget, using the ESRI’s SWITCH model.  This evidence-based methodology informs decision-making leading up to the Budget and ensures that the most vulnerable are protected.

In the interests both of older people and future generations of older people, the Government intends to consider the comprehensive and far reaching recommendations in the Pensions Commission’s Report very carefully and holistically.  My officials are examining each of the recommendations and are consulting across Government through the Cabinet Committee system.  This includes careful consideration of the various views submitted by the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection, Community and Rural Development and the Islands, and the Commission on Taxation and Welfare.

I think it is really important that we complete that work and get those views before reaching conclusions on any one recommendation.  In this regard, I intend bringing a holistic recommended response and implementation plan to Government in April.  

As the bedrock of the pension system in Ireland, the State Pension is very effective at ensuring that our pensioners do not experience poverty.  This Government is committed to ensuring that this remains the case for current pensioners, those nearing State Pension age and today’s young workers including those who are only starting their careers. 

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

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