Auto-enrolment plan must proceed to ensure young people have adequate pension cover – O’Shea

It is essential plans to introduce auto-enrolment proceed in order to ensure our young people have adequate pension cover, the new chairperson of the Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection, Rural and Community Development, John Paul O’Shea, has said.

Deputy O’Shea, Fine Gael TD for Cork North West, has today written to Minister for Social Protection, Dara Calleary, inviting him to appear before the committee to discuss the planned roll-out.

Deputy O’Shea said: “The delivery of auto-enrolment will be transformational for this country. This is about ensuring workers are supported in saving for their futures – and will involve a contribution from both employers and the State.

“After been talked about for over 25 years, the legislation for auto-enrolment was passed last year and the Programme for Government commits to its implementation.

“While a short delay has been announced, I have today invited Minister Calleary to appear before our committee to discuss the planned work programme over the next 7 months to ensure that auto enrolment is up and running on 1^st January 2026.

“Ireland is the only country in the OECD that does not have an auto-enrolment scheme in place.

“We know that pension coverage is too low in this country. In fact, recent figures have shown that it is as low as 35 per cent in the private sector.

“Auto enrolment will mean that our young people, the pensioners of tomorrow, will have the financial security that they need and deserve once they reach retirement.

“I look forward to engaging with Minister Calleary, along with other committee members, on this important issue in the near future.”