PEOPLE FOCUS - CIPD

PENSIONS PEOPLE FOCUS
‘Forecasting for the Future’ on
Women and Pensions Day 2008
Almost 49% of the female
workforce have no personal
pension coverage and are being
urged by the National Pensions
Action Campaign to seriously
consider planning for their
financial future.
The Pensions Board in conjunction with RTE Weather Presenter
Karina Buckley marked Women & Pensions Day with a
photocall at their offices in Lower Mount Street. Speaking at
the photocall Mr David Malone, Head of Information Services,
the Pensions Board explained; “Women today have very busy
working and family lives, it can be difficult to make the time to
think about their financial future. However if they want a
comfortable lifestyle in retirement, women need to seriously
consider their long term saving options.”
Brendan Kennedy, Cheif Executive, The Pensions Board,
Martin Cullen, T.D., Minister for Social and Family Affairs
and Nevin Maguire at the launch of the
National Pensions Action Campaign
Malone continued by emphasizing the critical need for
women in Ireland to start to focus on their pension
provision, he explained: “The statistics show that women
live longer than men, the average woman retiring today,
aged 65 years, can expect to live until 88 - over 20 years
in retirement. Only 51% of women in Ireland have
pension coverage and women often earn less than men,
tend to have broken career patterns and are more likely
to work part-time. When compounded, these factors
make women more vulnerable to poverty, especially in
their later years. This can make for a longer but poorer
retirement.”
Malone added: “On a positive note, we are noticing an
increase in women contacting us to discuss their pension
options and are showing a strong interest in our
initiatives such as the updated ‘Women & Pensions’
booklet. National Pensions Action Week provides an
opportunity for women throughout Ireland to take the
first step in activating a pension. As a first port of call,
the campaign is advising that they talk to their
employers, who are legally obliged to provide them with
access to a pension and to also refer to our web-site
www.pensionsboard.ie for more information.”
The updated ‘Women & Pensions’ booklet and the
Pensions Calculators are available on www.
pensionsboard.ie. The booklet deals with issues such as
re-entering the workforce, equal pension treatment,
maternity, adoptive, parental and carer’s leave and
pensions on separation or divorce ■