PENSIONS LEGISLATION UPDATE
Paul Kenny
Pensions Ombudsman
Mary Hutch
Head of DB Supervision
The Pensions Board
20 May 2008
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AGENDA
 The Pensions Acts, 1990 – 2008
 Social Welfare and Law Reform Act, 2006
 Social Welfare and Pensions Acts, 2007 - 2008
 On-the-spot Fines
 Trust based RAC’s
 Registered Administrators
 Trustee Training Requirements
 Pensions Board Supervisory Developments
 Update from Pensions Ombudsman
 Disclosure of Information Developments
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THE PENSIONS ACTS 1990 - 2008
 Part I – Preliminary and General
 Part II – Establishment of Pensions Board
 Part III – Preservation of Benefits
 Part IV – Funding Standard
 Part V – Disclosure of Information
 Part VI – Trustees of Scheme
*1 Part VIA – Registered Administrators
*2 Part VII – Equal Treatment
*1 Introduced by the Social Welfare and Pensions Act,2008
*2 Equal Pension Treatment introduced by Social Welfare Act, 2004
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THE PENSIONS ACTS, 1990 - 2008
*3 Part VIII– Compulsory and Voluntary Reporting
*3 Part IX – Miscellaneous Applications to the High Court
*3 Introduced by the Pensions (Amendment) Act, 1996
*4 Part X – Personal Retirement Savings Accounts (PRSA’s)
*4 Part XI – Pensions Ombudsman
*5 Part XII – Cross Border Schemes
*4 Introduced by the Pensions (Amendment) Act,2002
*5 Introduced by the Social Welfare and Pensions Act,2005
 Social Welfare Law Reform and Pensions Act, 2006
 Social Welfare and Pensions Act, 2007
 Social Welfare and Pensions Act, 2008
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SOCIAL WELFARE LAW REFORM AND PENSIONS ACT, 2006
 Enabling provisions for fines regime – inserts new S3A
• “pay up and remedy regime” as alternative to summary
prosecution (not commenced until 17.9.07)
• Inserts new S3B relating to rules of evidence in PB prosecutions
 Miscellaneous technical amendments:
• S48(3A) and 3(B) – Provisions to discharge liabilities where
scheme is wound-up with insufficient funds
• S46(1)(c) allows scheme actuary to assume index–linked benefits
may be replaced by equivalent fixed–rate increases -reflects
S48(3A) changes
• S51(A) – “Peer Review” of actuarial work for compliance with
the Pensions Act and in accordance with professional guidance
issued by SOAI – commenced 2 April 2007 by S.1. No 137 of
2007
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SOCIAL WELFARE LAW REFORM AND PENSIONS ACT, 2006
 Schemes ceasing to be exempt from S52 to submit AFCs to Board with
ED no more than 6 months after date on which exclusion ceased – S43
amendment
 PO can bypass IDR if nothing to be gained - S131 amendment
 PB can require small schemes in wind-up to produce Annual Report
where its deemed appropriate – S55(2) amendment
 Trustees can make transfer payments of preserved benefits to PRSAs –
S35 amendment
 Employers giving access to an overseas scheme not obliged to give
access to a PRSA – S121 amendment
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SOCIAL WELFARE AND PENSIONS ACT, 2007

Section 3A of the Pensions Act had been inserted by Social Welfare Law
Reform and Pensions Act 2006 to provide “fines” regime
• further amended in 2007 Act to specify contraventions subject to on-the–
spot fines
 Specified breaches are not new
 Mainly administrative–type breaches
- Scheme registration
- Disclosure of information
- Request for information
- Submission of AFCs
- Procedures for transfer payments
- SIPPs
- Increases to pensions in payment
See Pensions Board Trustee Checklist on www.pensionsboard.ie
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SOCIAL WELFARE AND PENSIONS ACT, 2007
ON-THE-SPOT FINES
 Regulations made on 17 September 2007
- S.I.s No. 631, No. 632 and No. 633 of 2007
 Fine for each offence is €2,000 per trustee
 Fines cannot be paid out of resources of scheme, trust RAC or PRSA
 More serious matters will continue to be dealt with by going to Court
 Coincides with a tougher approach by the Board to offences
 To date Fines Notices have issued to 11 sets of trustees and to 5
employers
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SOCIAL WELFARE AND PENSIONS ACT, 2007
ON-THE-SPOT FINES
 Breaching the Pensions Act is breaking the law
 Timescales are generous, no real excuses
 Breaches will result in fines or prosecutions
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SOCIAL WELFARE AND PENSIONS ACT, 2007
TRUST BASED RACS
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Social Welfare and Pensions Act, 2007 bring trust RACs under the remit of
certain provisions of Pensions Act with effect 27.4.07 – commenced by S.I.
No. 181 of 2007
Trust RACs are “IORPS” for purposes of Pensions Directive 2003/41/EC
Regulatory Requirements
 Trustees Duties
 Scheme Registration and pay fees –
-trust RACs (Registration) Regulations, 2007 – S.I. No. 187 of 2007
-trust RACs (Fees) Regulations, 2007 - S.I. No. 768 of 2007
 Remittance and investment of contributions
 SIPPs (not small trust RACs)
 Investment obligations – Trust RACs (Investment ) Regulations – S.I. No.
185 of 2007 plus S.I. No. 188 of 2007
 Trustees qualifications and experience – Trust RACs (Trustee)
Regulations, 2007 – S.I. No. 186 of 2007
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Slide 10 Continued
SOCIAL WELFARE AND PENSIONS ACT, 2007
TRUST BASED RACS
 Disclosure of Information (not small Trust RACs) - Trust RACs
(Disclosure of Information) Regulation S.I. No 182 of 2007
 Cross-Border requirements – Trust RACs (Cross-Border)
Regulations, 2007 – S.I. No. 184 of 2007
 “Whistleblowing”
 Pensions Ombudsman – Pensions Ombudsman Regulations, 2007
– S.I. No. 183 of 2007
FAQs on Trust Based RACs are available on www.pensionsboard.ie
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SOCIAL WELFARE AND PENSIONS ACT, 2007
OTHER AMENDMENTS
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6 month time limit on appeal to High Court on point of law from a
determination by Board – S38(4), 53(3), 58(3), 64A(3)
DC schemes subject to Funding Standard to produce first AFC with effective
date no later than 1 April 2007 – S43(1)(c)
S50 amended to enable Board direct reduction in some or all of active
members benefits so scheme can satisfy Funding Standard by date specified in
Funding Proposal rather than immediately after reduction takes place
Board can require actuaries to furnish actuarial work directly to it – S54
PRSA providers need only give notice in relation to increased charges –
S104(11)
Level of fines for both summary and indictable offences increased from
€1,904.61 to €5,000 for a summary offence and from €12,697.38 to €25,000
for an indictable offence
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OTHER LEGISLATIVE CHANGES IN 2007
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Commencement of S43 of Pensions (Amendment) Act, 2002 with effect from
31.12.07
- inserts Section 59D, 59E, and 59F into Pensions Act, 1990
S59D provides that Regulations may be made to provide for members to be
consulted before trustees or employers exercise any discretion regarding
abatement of assets or dispose of surplus in a wind-up
- Disclosure of Information (Amendment) Regulations – S.I. No. 842 of
2007 include regulations required under S59D
S59E provides that regulations may be made requiring disclosure to scheme
members prior to bulk transfer
S59F provides that regulations may be made that would invalidate amendment
of scheme rules prior to a bulk transfer in certain circumstances
- S59E and S59F Regulations not made yet
Regulation S.I. No. 844 of 2007 made on 18.12.2007 revoked 3 sets of
UK/Ireland Regulations as these have been superseded by IORPs Directive
and no longer required
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SOCIAL WELFARE AND PENSIONS ACT, 2008
 Implements the recommendations in the Board’s Report to the Minister
on Trusteeship re Registered Administrators and trustee training
 Report noted that third party administrators were unregulated in terms
of scheme administration work undertaken on behalf of trustees
 Recommended that scheme administrators should register with Board
who would have responsibility to:
- audit administration service provision, and
- remove registration or apply sanctions if required standards are not
met
 Pensions Act amended to bring administrators within its remit in
relation to certain core functions they perform
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SOCIAL WELFARE AND PENSIONS ACT, 2008
REGISTERED ADMINISTRATORS (RAS)
 No RA qualification specified but RA must be satisfied they are
competent and capable of:
 providing core administration functions
 have systems and procedures in place to deliver services
 Trustee can appoint themselves as RAs if they can fulfill above
requirements
 1 member schemes must appoint RA for benefit statement/
records/Eurostat information
 RA can apply to be registered for either or both functions and must
maintain records for function for which appointed
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SOCIAL WELFARE AND PENSIONS ACT, 2008
REGISTERED ADMINISTRATORS (RAS)

With effect from 1 November 2008 trustees of every scheme (including large Trust
RACs) must appoint an RA to provide “core administration functions”
 Core administrations functions are:
- preparation of annual reports
- preparation of benefit statements
- maintenance of sufficient and accurate member records to discharge above
 Offence for RAs to fail to carry out core functions within time limits specified
within 8 months of scheme year end for annual reports
- within 1 month prior to date of issue for benefit statements
 Board has power to :
- Require RA to furnish it with such information it considers necessary, either on
scheme specific basis or generally with respect to RA activities
- Carry out on-site inspections of RA’s premises or any outsource’s premises
 Sanctions for failure to perform core functions may include:
- prosecution (not on-the-spot-fines)
- subjecting RA to conditions on renewal of its registration
- refusal to renew the registration
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Slide 16 continued
SOCIAL WELFARE AND PENSIONS ACT, 2008
REGISTERED ADMINISTRATORS (RAS)
 Sanction depends on degree of non-compliance and number of
schemes in respect of which offence has been committed
 RA can appeal Board’s decision to terminate or refuse to renew
registration to High Court
 Criminal offence to carry out core functions without registering with
the Board
 Trustees still retain current duties under Pensions Act to provide
Annual Reports and benefit statements
- where they fail to do so but can show they had taken reasonable
steps to secure compliance by RA, Board will not pursue
trustees
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SOCIAL WELFARE AND PENSIONS ACT, 2008
REGISTERED ADMINISTRATORS (RAS)
Registration Process
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Existing RAs must register with Board prior to 1.11.08
New RAs must register before commencing business
- registration period lasts 12 months
 RAs must complete form indicating:
- schemes for which they are applying to be registered
- certify they are satisfied they are competent to provide core
administration functions to these schemes
 RAs must renew their registration annually no later than 30 days before
anniversary of initial registration or renewal
 No fee payable on registration or renewal
 Draft registration forms available on Boards website shortly
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SOCIAL WELFARE AND PENSIONS ACT, 2008
REGISTERED ADMINISTRATORS (RAS)
 RAs also required to provide statistical information for Eurostat
- applies to RA responsible for preparation of annual report
 RAs subject to “whistleblowing” requirements
 RAs who outsource still liable
 RAs can rely on third party defence apart from outsource arrangement
 Overseas administrators must register as RA and provide address in the
State for service of notices and proceedings
 POs powers under the Act apply to RAs
 Register of RAs will be published on Board’s website
 Regulations are pending
FAQs on RAs are available on www.pensionsboard.ie
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SOCIAL WELFARE AND PENSIONS ACT, 2008
TRUSTEE TRAINING REQUIREMENTS
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Employers required to arrange trustee training for new trustees
- within 6 months of their appointment, and
- at least every 2 years thereafter
No requirement on persons who are already trustees when legislation
commences to undertake training within 6 months
BUT
- the ongoing 2 year training does apply
Employers who breach obligation may be prosecuted
- not obliged to arrange for professional and pensioneer trustees
Trustees who fail to take training are liable to on-the-spot fines
- must report in Annual Report that they have undertaken required
training
Trustee e-learning in development
Regulations are pending
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SOCIAL WELFARE AND PENSIONS ACT, 2008
MISCELLANEOUS AMENDMENTS
 DC scheme definition revised to clarify that schemes offering
guaranteed benefits or investment performance do not constitute DC
schemes
 S 4(1) amended to allow PO and Revenue to exchange information
 S54 amended to require trustees of small trust RACs to provide
Eurostat information to Board
 S141(4) amended in relation to enforcement of PO determinations to
include registered office or place of business of a person against whom
determination made
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PENSIONS BOARD SUPERVISORY DEVELOPMENTS
 Supervision function divided into 2 teams
- Defined Benefit Supervision headed by Mary Hutch
- Defined Contribution Supervision headed by Philip Dalton
(to include PRSAs, DC OPS, Trust Based RACs)
 Move to risk based supervision
 More focus on administration
 On-site and off-site supervision
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Office of the Pensions Ombudsman
• Changes to the Pensions Act
Made by
– Social Welfare Law Reform & Pensions Act
2006
– Social Welfare & Pensions Act 2007
– Social Welfare & Pensions Act 2008
– Amendment to PO Regulations in 2006
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2006 Amendments
• Power to waive Internal Disputes Resolution (IDR)
requirement except in “Public Authority” Schemes
– Public authority schemes -some surprising exclusions
– Some schemes are public authority for one purpose, not for another
• If I consider it reasonable in the circumstances of the case
that the requirement be dispensed with
– And it is desirable that the complaint be investigated
• Regulations amended:
IDR deemed exhausted after 3 months or such longer
period as I consider appropriate….
– Investigation proceeds without IDR completion
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2007 Amendments
• A number of technical amendments to
extend jurisdiction to Trust RACs, provide
for IDR requirement, etc
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2008 Amendments
• Registered Administrators did not require any
amendment to PO Regulations, as already covered
by very wide definition of “Administrator” in
2003 regs
• Power to Exchange Information;
– Already existed between PO and Pensions Board.
– Extended to Revenue Commissioners
– Memorandum of Understanding to be drawn up with
Revenue (Act does not require this)
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Other Developments
• Rules of Court for Appeals from and Enforcement
by statutory tribunals published : SI 14 of 2007
• Our enforcement is through Circuit Court: rules
drafted for this. (Minister’s involvement)
• First enforcement actions proceeding
• Applications to Circuit Court for information
withheld
• First Criminal prosecutions for obstruction
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Changes to Disclosure Requirements
• 2005 Regulations replaced 1998 regs.
• 2006 regulations (SI 301 of 2006) are called
Remake Regulations – some changes made.
• Amendment regulations (SI 582 of 2006) made
some technical amendments
• Amendment regulations (SI 842 of 2007) made
some further technical amendments
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2006 (SI 301) Changes
• Exclude one-member arrangement from need to
prepare a valuation report
• Clarify preparation of annual report by insurance
undertaking
• Information in annual benefit statement (DB)
based on info not more than 6 months old
• Statements of reasonable projection not needed
until 1/1/2008
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2006 (SI 301) Changes
• Trustees named as at time of issue of benefit
statement, not relevant date of statement
• Some textual changes
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2006 (SI 582) Amendments
• Statements of Reasonable Projection to
follow Soc. Of Actuaries Guidelines
• Small schemes exempt from including SIPP
in Annual Report
• All Annual Reports must identify scheme
type (DB or DC)
• Leaving service statement not to refer to
PAO if none issued!
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2007 (SI 842) Amendments
• Small schemes operating cross-border to produce full
annual reports and accounts
• Information in DC annual benefit statement to relate to
date not being earlier than 6 months before date of issue
• Defer requirements for SORP to 1 Jan 2009
– Information on SORP to relate to date not being earlier than 6
months before date of issue
• DB and DC deferred members entitled to information in
paras 2 – 6 of Part 1 – Schedule E
• DB and DC annual benefit statements need only provide
details of all contributions, transfers in etc received by
schemes since previous statement
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2007 (SI 842) Amendments
• Consultation with members before any discretion exercised
on abatement of assets/disposition of surplus on wind-up
• DB schemes can reference information already provided to
members specifying how additional DB benefits can be
acquired and specify either:
– amount of the benefits, or
– an explanation of how they will be calculated
as alternative to providing this information in DB benefit
statement
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