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ARTICLE · 12 APRIL 2024

An Auto-Enrolment Easter Egg? Cabinet Approves AE Legislation

William Fry LLP
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The introduction of the new pension Auto-Enrolment system (AE system) has been promised by successive Irish governments since the mid-2000s.

IrelandEmployment and HR
Ian Devlin
Ian Devlin
Ciara McLoughlin
Ciara McLoughlin
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The introduction of the new pension Auto-Enrolment system (AE system) has been promised by successive Irish governments since the mid-2000s.

We understand significant progress has been made with cabinet approving draft legislation on Wednesday 27 March 2024.

At the time of writing, the Automatic Enrolment Retirement Savings System Bill (Bill) has yet to be published. However, the Department of Social Protection recently updated its FAQs on the topic which provides guidance on what might be expected in the Bill.

The FAQs state that once an employee is making some pension saving via payroll they will not be enrolled to the new AE system: "if you are contributing to your personal pension through payroll, you will not be eligible for the scheme." The FAQs indicate that the Pensions Authority will develop standards for pension schemes to qualify for exemption from the AE system, but not until the level of contributions increases. This suggests that employees who

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