Clare Daly (Dublin North, United Left)
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230. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will conduct public hearings along the lines of those under way at the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs in the European Parliament in relation to the institutions for occupational retirement provision directive and the implications for cross-border pension schemes. [21988/15]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The 2003 IORPS (Institutions for Occupational Retirement Provision) Directive 2003/41/EC applies to all occupational pension schemes in Ireland including Defined Benefit (DB) and Defined Contribution (DC) schemes and was transposed into Irish law in September 2005. It established basic EU requirements for occupational pension funds and their supervision. The EU Commission published its proposal to review the Directive in March 2014. In making its proposals for revision of the Directive, the EU Commission highlighted an intention to –

- Give greater protection to scheme members and beneficiaries;

- Require IORPS to provide members with clear and relevant information about their pension entitlements;

- Remove obstacles for cross-border provision of services; and

- Ensure that the supervisors have the necessary tools to enable them to effectively supervise IORPS.

Given its responsibility for pensions policy, between March and December 2014, the Department of Social Protection led negotiations on the proposal at EU Council Working Party level. On the 10th December 2014 the Permanent Representatives Committee agreed, on behalf of the Council, a general approach on the revised draft directive.

To ensure the Irish position in these discussions at EU level was as fully informed as possible, rather than conduct public hearings, in the period from July to September 2014, the Department of Social Protection initiated an open ‘IORPS Consultation and Invitation for Submissions’ regarding the Commission’s proposals. As well as being made available to the general public on the Department’s website www.welfare.ie, the social partners along with consumer and industry representatives were invited to submit comments and observations on Commission proposals. Whilst submissions received covered a wide range of views, it is reasonable to say that the proposals of most interest and concern to sectoral interests reflected those which Ireland had raised at Working Party level and on which significant progress has been made. Officials from the Department of Social Protection also engaged with the Joint Oireachtas Committee of Education and Social Protection on a number of occasions during the course of IORPS II negotiations.

Following accommodation of a range of amendments tabled by Ireland and other Member States, agreement on a General Approach was secured at Council in December 2014. Negotiations have now started within the European Parliament. Once the Parliament votes for its Report on the Directive, discussions will commence between the Council, Commission and Parliament. This may result in the Directive being further amended or adopted. The Department of Social Protection will continue to engage with sectoral interests as necessary as the proposal progresses through the legislative process.