Earlier this year, I introduced regulations and approved an amendment to guidance issued by the Pensions Authority to provide for the recognition by the trustees of a pensions scheme of groups representing the interests of pensioner and deferred members of pension schemes. These changes mean that all groups representing the interests of the various categories of pension schemes membership are treated the same in the context of the provisions in the Pensions Act. These changes will facilitate engagement between groups representing the interests of pensioner and deferred scheme members and the Pension Authority and the trustees of a pension scheme.
In general, pension schemes in Ireland are set up under trust and, in that context the trustees of a pension scheme are required to act in the best interest of all scheme members.
The issue of engagement with the industrial relations machinery of the State falls within the remit of the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation. It is acknowledged that the industrial relations system in Ireland is voluntary in nature both as regards access to the Labour Relations Commission and the Labour Court. Any change to that principle which would put in place a mandated right to be part of the process would alter fundamentally the conduct of industrial relations.
