Vol. 531 No. 3
57 Mr. McDowell asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs his plans to establish a pensions ombudsman to settle disputes between pensioners and their trustees; if he is considering plans to introduce provisions which would require pension schemes to have internal disputes procedures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5717/01]
320 Mr. Creed asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if his Department will consider the establishment of a pensions ombudsman to oversee the management of pension funds to ensure that retired employees who were former contributors receive their fair share of these managed funds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5818/01]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 57 and 320 together.
I intend to provide for the establishment of a pensions ombudsman in the forthcoming Pensions Bill. The specific provisions relating to this ombudsman are being finalised in the context of drafting the Bill, which I expect to publish before Easter. However, the pensions Board, in its report on the setting up of a Pensions ombudsman function, recommended that, in parallel with the statutory provisions for the Ombudsman, provision should also be introduced to require pension schemes to have an internal disputes resolution procedure and I am considering this proposal.
