Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Senator for bringing these amendments forward. I point out that NAERSA will not be established as a research institute. Ireland already has a number of world-class institutes and universities with the ability to undertake a detailed analysis of automatic enrolment and its participants in due course. I do not intend to overburden NAERSA with unnecessary matters. The Bill already provides for annual reviews and a comprehensive review of how the system is working within five years of its operation, and that is enough.

With regard to the amendment on gender and equality proofing, this has already been built into the design of the automatic enrolment system and it is reflected in the regulatory impact assessment, RIA, that preceded this Bill.

Regarding the amendment on reviewing occupation pensions, they do not come within the scope of this Bill or the function of NAERSA. The Pensions Authority already has a role here. Automatic enrolment is a retirement savings system built on payroll data. The authority will not know and will not need to know every detail about every participant. It would not even be permissible under GDPR legislation to seek and retain all the data the Senator suggests. Therefore, I cannot support or accept these amendments.