Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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To ask the Minister for Social Protection when she will publish the draft heads of the Social Welfare and Pensions Bill which is to include a section amending the rules for the distribution of assets in the wind up of defined benefit pension schemes that are underfunded. [14842/13]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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I expect that the Social Welfare and Pensions Bill will be published in May 2013.

You will appreciate that the issue of how the assets of a pension scheme are distributed on the wind-up of a pension scheme is a sensitive and complex issue and one which requires careful consideration before any change is made to the current provisions. In this regard, my officials have completed a detailed review of these provisions which involved engagement with stakeholder representatives and with external consultants who provided valuable assistance in reviewing this issue.

The outcome of this review is being considered at present.