Cabinet to discuss establishment of pensions commission
The Cabinet meets this morning with Social Protection Minister
Heather Humphreys expected to bring a memo proposing the formal
establishment of a Commission on Pensions.
Under the Coalition’s programme for government, the pension age will
be maintained at 66 pending the completion of the Commission’s work – a
position confirmed in last month’s Budget speech by Minister for Public
Expenditure Michael McGrath.
Ms Humphreys is due to publish the relevant legislation in the coming
weeks, however, the membership of the Commission should be made public
later today.
It is expected to include representation from workers groups, employers, civil society, as well as academics.
The plan is for the Commission to submit a report to the Ms Humphreys
in the middle of next year, which will include recommendations on how
to proceed with this highly controversial question.
The previous government had planned to increase the age of retirement
to 67 next year, and 68 in 2028, a proposal which became a major issue
in this year’s general election.
When negotiating a programme for government, Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael
and the Greens agreed on a compromise in which the pension age remain at
66 until the Commission on Pensions completed its work.
The last government estimated the cost of not increasing the pension age next January at €221m.
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