Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)
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32. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the actions she will take to increase pension coverage here; if she will provide an update on the operation of the provisions contained in the Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2013; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47003/14]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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I requested the OECD to carry out a review of the Irish pension system in 2012. The OECD released its report (OECD Reviews of Pensions Systems – Ireland) in April 2013. One of the key recommendations in the report was to increase pensions coverage through a universal mandatory or quasi-mandatory employment based pension system. In line with this recommendation and with the Programme for Government, the 2014-2016 Statement of Priorities confirmed that during 2015 the Government will agree a roadmap and timeline for the introduction of a new, universal supplementary pension saving scheme.

The constituent factors involved in constructing an efficient and effective universal pension system are complex and diverse and it is of critical importance that any system chosen is correctly designed.

Therefore, development of the roadmap will involve detailed consideration of the range of models and options available and will include co-operation across a range of Government Departments and engagement with all sectoral interests.

In relation to the changes provided for in the Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Act 2013, there was one scheme where the changes to section 50 of the Pensions Act were applied and I am glad to say that I have not received an application from the trustees of any defined benefits pension scheme seeking funding to meet a shortfall in scheme resources where the scheme was wound up and both the employer and the scheme was insolvent.