Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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339. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide an update regarding a new priority order for defined benefit pensions, in view of events at Waterford Crystal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49173/13]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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I am very aware of the difficulties facing many defined benefit pension schemes at this time. A range of both legislative and administrative measures have been put in place in recent years to help employers and the trustees of pension scheme respond to the funding challenge. The issue of how the assets of a scheme are distributed on the wind up of a scheme is a sensitive and complex issue. This issue has been examined in some depth and is under consideration at present, along with other defined benefit issues. It is my intention to report to Government on this and related issues with a view to presenting a wider package of legislative proposals and additional reforms for consideration.