Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 8 May 2024

Select Committee on Social Protection

Automatic Enrolment Retirement Savings System Bill 2024: Committee Stage

Photo of Heather HumphreysHeather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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No. Auto-enrolment is available from day one. Nobody is going to lose out. There is very little in this and what we are talking about because if we substitute years 7 to 9 with 4 to 6, we would have to calculate to the end of year 3 and, therefore, the employees will only have had the benefit of 1.5%. It will not have moved on to the next step. That is why I am saying the end of year 6 at the latest, because we are going to go from years 7 to 9. We have to, if the standards of employment to be exempt from AE are to be drawn up by the end year 6 at the latest. There is not a lot in it. It was just because we felt that the impact of the increased contributions would not be seen and it would be better to leave it until we can see that benefit. That is the thinking behind it.