John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

As a regulator, the Pensions Authority must have some view. Mr. Kennedy is clearly able to indicate the number of schemes, the decline of the schemes, and the risk here is that there is a move from a voluntary basis, and there are proposed amendments without any reference to ability to pay. I have made the point to Mr. O'Brien that companies with the ability to pay have walked away from what we would have viewed as their obligations. There is, however, a concern for companies that cannot pay. The viability of those schemes and those companies is an issue. Considering this is legislation that the Pensions Authority did not look for, on balance does Mr. Kennedy view this as a positive or a negative?