Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2011
I mbeagán focal
Is éard atá sa dlí seo ná leasuithe ar na hAchtanna Leasa Shóisialaigh agus ar na hAchtanna Pinsean, chomh maith le leasuithe agus modhnuithe ar reachtanna eile. Déanann sé athruithe ar fhorálacha éagsúla a bhaineann le sochair leasa shóisialaigh, pinsin, agus nithe gaolmhara.
Cad a rialaíonn sé
- Leasuithe ar Achtanna Leasa Shóisialaigh, lena n-áirítear sainmhínithe, tuairiscí sochar, agus leasuithe ar fhorálacha sonracha.
- Leasuithe ar Achtanna Pinsean 1990 go 2010, go háirithe maidir le cistí rialála dílse agus deimhniú polasaithe nó conarthaí árachais áirithe.
- Modhnuithe ar reachtanna eile, amhail an tAcht um Pá Íosta Náisiúnta 2000 agus an tAcht um Theangacha Oifigiúla 2003.
- Forálacha maidir le haisíoc suimeanna atá dlite agus soláthar faisnéise ag éilitheoirí agus tairbhithe.
Cé air a mbaineann sé
- Éilitheoirí agus tairbhithe sochar leasa shóisialaigh agus pinsean.
- Fostóirí maidir le ranníocaíochtaí leasa shóisialaigh.
Príomhphointí
- Cuirtear deireadh le sochar báis do thuismitheoirí.
- Ní bheidh pinsean Stáit (idirthréimhse) iníoctha le duine a shroicheann 65 bliana d'aois an 1 Eanáir 2014 nó dá éis.
- Méadófar an aois inphinsin go 67 mbliana an 1 Eanáir 2021, agus go 68 mbliana an 1 Eanáir 2028.
- Athraítear rátaí ranníocaíochtaí fostóirí leasa shóisialaigh: 3.9 faoin gcéad ó 2 Iúil 2011 go 31 Nollaig 2013, agus 7.8 faoin gcéad ó 1 Eanáir 2014 agus gach bliain ranníocaíochta ina dhiaidh sin, i gcás tuilleamh ináirithe seachtainiúil nach mó ná €356. I gcás tuilleamh ináirithe seachtainiúil os cionn €356, is é an ráta 10.05 faoin gcéad.
Legal text
Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2011 Skip to content Disclaimer Feedback Helpdesk Gaeilge Léim go dtí an t-ábhar Séanadh Aiseolas Deasc chabhrach English Gaeilge English Produced by the Office of the Attorney General Táirgthe ag Oifig an Ard-Aighne Home Legislation Acts of the Oireachtas Statutory Instruments Pre-1922 Legislation Constitution External Resources Bills (Houses of the Oireachtas) Iris Oifigiúil / Official Gazette Revised Acts (LRC) Classified List of Legislation (LRC) Translations (acts.
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- ie)Aistriúcháin (Tithe an Oireachtais) Foilseacháin Rialtais ar Díol Dlí AE (EUR-Lex) CCanna (Ceisteanna Coitianta) Séanadh Aiseolas Deasc chabhrach Cuardach TitleTeideal Year(
- s)or rangeBliain nó blianta nó raon TypeCineál All Legislation Acts Statutory Instruments Advanced SearchCuardach Casta HomeBaile ActsAchtanna 2011 Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2011 Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2011 Permanent Page URL View by SectionAmharc de réir Ailt View Full ActAmharc ar an Acht Iomlán Bill History Stair Bille Commencement, Amendments, SIs made under the Act Tosach Feidhme, Leasuithe, IRí arna ndéanamh faoin Acht Revised Act Acht Athbh… Open PDFOscail PDF Print Full ActPriontáil an tAcht Iomlán Number 9 of 2011 SOCIAL WELFARE AND PENSIONS ACT 2011 ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS PART 1 Preliminary and General Section 1. Short title, collective citations, construction and commencement. PART 2 Amendments to Social Welfare Acts 2. Definition. 3. Amendment of section 13 of Principal Act. 4. Description of benefits. 5. Discontinuance of death benefit — parents. 6. Discontinuance of State pension (transition). 7. Increase in pensionable age. 8. Amendment of section 144 of Principal Act. 9. One-parent family payment — amendments. 10. Supplementary welfare allowance — amendments. 11. Amendments to Principal Act relating to assessment of means. 12. Information to be supplied by claimants and beneficiaries. 13. Amendment of section 250 of Principal Act. 14. Allocation of personal public service number in certain circumstances. 15. Cancellation and surrender of public services card. 16. National internship scheme — amendments to Principal Act. 17. Repayment of amounts due to be deferred, suspended or cancelled. 18. Repayment of amounts due arising from false or misleading statements or wilful concealment of facts. 19. Supplementary welfare allowance — calculation of means. 20. Specified bodies. PART 3 Amendments and Modification to other Enactments 21. Exclusion resulting from membership of either House of the Oireachtas, European Parliament or local authorities. 22. Amendment of National Minimum Wage Act 2000. 23. Reduction in national training fund levy in certain circumstances. 24. Disapplication of section 7 of Official Languages Act 2003. PART 4 Amendments to Pensions Act 1990 Chapter 1 Definition 25. Definition. Chapter 2 Regulatory own funds 26. Amendment of section 2 of Principal Act. 27. Amendment of section 40 of Principal Act. 28. Amendment of section 41 of Principal Act. 29. Amendment of section 43 of Principal Act. 30. Amendment of section 49 of Principal Act. 31. Amendment of section 50 of Principal Act. 32. Amendment of section 50A of Principal Act. 33. Amendment of section 51 of Principal Act. 34. Amendment of section 51A of Principal Act. 35. Regulatory Own Funds Schemes. 36. Amendment of section 54 of Principal Act. 37. Amendment of section 55 of Principal Act. 38. Amendment of section 56 of Principal Act. 39. Amendment of section 64D of Principal Act. Chapter 3 Certification of certain policies or contracts of assurance 40. Amendment of section 48 of Principal Act. 41. Certification of certain policies or contracts of assurance. 42. Amendment of Part IVA of Principal Act. 43. Amendment of section 59 of Principal Act. Acts Referred to Citizens Information Acts 2000 to 2008 Comhairle Act 2000 2000, No. 1 Companies Acts European Parliament Elections Act 1997 1997, No. 2 Finance Act 1970 1970, No. 14 Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act 2010 2010, No. 38 Industrial Training Act 1967 1967, No. 5 Insurance Act 1989 1989, No. 3 National Minimum Wage Act 2000 2000, No. 5 National Training Fund Act 2000 2000, No. 41 Official Languages Act 2003 2003, No. 32 Pensions Act 1990 1990, No. 25 Pensions Acts 1990 to 2010 Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 2005, No. 10 Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2008 2008, No. 22 Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2010 2010, No. 28 Social Welfare Act 2010 2010, No. 34 Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Act 2009 2009, No. 43 Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2005 2005, No. 4 Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2007 2007, No. 8 Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2008 2008, No. 2 Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2009 2009, No. 10 Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2010 2010, No. 37 Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 2005, No. 26 Social Welfare Law Reform and Pensions Act 2006 2006, No. 5 Tax Acts Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 1997, No. 39 Number 9 of 2011 SOCIAL WELFARE AND PENSIONS ACT 2011 AN ACT TO AMEND AND EXTEND THE SOCIAL WELFARE ACTS AND THE PENSIONS ACTS 1990 TO 2010, TO AMEND AND MODIFY OTHER ENACTMENTS AND TO PROVIDE FOR RELATED MATTERS. [29th June, 2011] BE IT ENACTED BY THE OIREACHTAS AS FOLLOWS: PART 1 Preliminary and General Short title, collective citations, construction and commencement. 1.—
- a)The Social Welfare Acts and Part 2 shall be read together as one. (
- b)The Citizens Information Acts 2000 to 2008 and section 21 may be cited together as the Citizens Information Acts 2000 to 2011. (
- c)The Pensions Acts 1990 to 2010 and Part 4 shall be read together as one and may be cited together as the Pensions Acts 1990 to 2011.
- a)in paragraph (
- b)(amended by section 12 of the Social Welfare Act 2010 ) by deleting “paragraph (
- ba)and to”, (
- b)by deleting paragraph (
- ba)(inserted by section 12 of the Social Welfare Act 2010 ), and (
- c)by substituting the following paragraph for paragraph (
- d)(amended by section 13 of the Social Welfare Act 2010 ): “(
- d)Subject to paragraph (da), subsection
- i)at the percentage rate specified in the Table to this paragraph of the amount of the reckonable earnings in that week to which that payment relates where those reckonable earnings do not exceed €356 (or the equivalent thereof in the case of an employed contributor remunerated otherwise than on a weekly basis), and (
- ii)at the rate of 10.05 per cent of the amount of the reckonable earnings in that week to which that payment relates where those reckonable earnings exceed €356 (or the equivalent thereof in the case of an employed contributor remunerated otherwise than on a weekly basis). TABLE Contribution payable by employed contributor’s employer where the weekly reckonable earnings do not exceed €356 Period for which contribution payable 3.9 per cent 2 July 2011 to 31 December 2011 3.9 per cent 1 January 2012 to 31 December 2012 3.9 per cent 1 January 2013 to 31 December 2013 7.8 per cent 1 January 2014 to 31 December 2014 and each subsequent contribution year ”.
- a)in paragraph (
- c)by substituting “sections 81 and 83” for “sections 81, 82 and 83”, and (
- b)in paragraph (
- f)by substituting “section 81 or 83” for “section 81, 82 or 83”.
- a)where a person is in receipt of death benefit under section 82 of the Principal Act immediately before the commencement of this section, or (
- b)where a person makes a claim for death benefit under section 82 of the Principal Act and the claim has not been fully determined before the commencement of this section and the person would have become entitled to death benefit but for subsection
- a)a reference to a civil partner is a reference to each civil partner of a couple in relation to the other, and (
- b)a reference to a cohabitant is a reference to each cohabitant in relation to the other.”, and (
- b)by substituting the following subsection for subsection
- b)of the Principal Act is amended in sub-paragraph (
- i)by substituting “174
- a)in the definition of “qualified parent” (amended by section 20 of the Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2010 ), by substituting “relevant child” for “qualified child”, and (
- b)by inserting the following definitions: “ ‘relevant child’ means a person who— (
- a)is ordinarily resident in the State, (
- b)is not detained in a children detention school, and (
- c)has— (
- i)not attained the age of 14 years, or (
- ii)attained the age of 14 years but has not attained the age of 16 years and is a child in respect of whom a payment under Chapter 8A of Part 3 is in payment; ‘relevant date’ means the date of death of— (
- a)the spouse of the surviving spouse, (
- b)the cohabitant of the surviving cohabitant, or (
- c)the civil partner of the surviving civil partner;”.
- a)a surviving spouse where both spouses of a married couple are, on the relevant date, living together and one of them dies, (
- b)a surviving cohabitant where both cohabitants are, on the relevant date, cohabiting and one of them dies, and (
- c)a surviving civil partner where both civil partners of a civil partnership are, on the relevant date, living together and one of them dies, and where the surviving spouse, surviving cohabitant or surviving civil partner is the parent, step-parent, adoptive parent or legal guardian of at least one child who normally resides with that surviving spouse, surviving cohabitant or surviving civil partner and the youngest child has, on the relevant date, attained the age of 14 years.
- a)the period commencing on the relevant date and ending on the day that is 2 years after that date, or (
- b)the period commencing on the relevant date and ending on the date that the youngest child attains the age of 18 years. Entitlement to one-parent family payment in certain circumstances. 173B.—
- a)a surviving spouse where both spouses of a married couple are, on the relevant date, living together and one of them dies, (
- b)a surviving cohabitant where both cohabitants are, on the relevant date, cohabiting and one of them dies, and (
- c)a surviving civil partner where both civil partners are, on the relevant date, living together and one of them dies, and where the surviving spouse, surviving cohabitant or surviving civil partner is the parent, step-parent, adoptive parent or legal guardian of at least one child who normally resides with that surviving spouse, surviving cohabitant or surviving civil partner and the youngest child has, on the relevant date, attained the age of 12 years but has not attained the age of 14 years.
- a)a person whose spouse or civil partner has been committed in custody to a prison or place of detention for not less than 6 months, or (
- b)a person to whom section 178A
- a)in 2011, until the youngest child attains the age of 18 years; (
- b)in 2012, until the youngest child attains the age of 18 years; (
- c)in 2013, until the youngest child attains the age of 17 years; (
- d)in 2014, until the youngest child attains the age of 16 years; (
- e)in 2015, until the youngest child attains the age of 15 years; (
- f)in 2016, until the youngest child attains the age of 14 years. (6A) For the purposes of subsection
- e)shall be read as if ‘16 years’ was substituted for ‘15 years’, and (
- b)subsection
- a)attained the age of 14 years on or before 27 April 2011, or (
- b)attained the age of 14 years but has not attained the age of 16 years on or before 27 April 2011 and is a child in respect of whom a payment under Chapter 8A of Part 3 is in payment, continue to receive that payment immediately after 27 April 2011, one-parent family payment shall continue to be payable to that person up to the end of an academic year which commences in 2012, where the youngest child who, having attained the age of 18 years, is under the age of 22 years, and is receiving full-time education, in such circumstances as may be prescribed.
- a)been in receipt of one-parent family payment for a period of 52 consecutive weeks and is disqualified for receipt of that payment on or after 27 April 2011 by virtue of— (
- i)having gross weekly earnings in excess of the amount specified in section 173
- ii)participation in a scheme commonly known as the Back to Education Allowance, and (
- b)but for that disqualification the person would be entitled to that one-parent family payment, the person shall again become entitled to that payment, subject to, and in accordance with, subsection
- a)died in the State and suitable arrangements have not otherwise been made for the burial of that person, or (
- b)(
- i)drowned and whose body has been cast ashore, or (
- ii)otherwise perished and been found dead, in the State and whose body has not been claimed for burial.
- a)from the estate of the deceased person, or (
- b)from any person who was liable to maintain the deceased person immediately before his or her death.”.
- c)child benefit, (
- d)respite care grant, (
- e)family income supplement, (
- f)continued payment for qualified children, or (
- g)payment pursuant to section 239, in accordance with this Act, an officer of the Minister authorised by him or her for this purpose may, subject to the conditions and in the circumstances that shall be prescribed, defer, suspend, reduce or cancel repayment of any such amount.”.
- a)by deleting paragraph (d), and (
- b)by substituting the following paragraph for paragraph (
- g)(amended by section 22 of the Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2008 ): “(
- g)any contribution payable under Part 18D of the Act of 1997 and known as universal social charge.”.
- a)a deciding officer, bureau officer, the Executive or any other person who makes a decision in relation to a claim for, or the payment of, benefit in deciding whether— (
- i)a claimant is entitled to make a claim for benefit or to receive any benefit, or (
- ii)a beneficiary is entitled to continue to receive any benefit, or (
- b)in assessing the training, education or development needs appropriate to the circumstances of the claimant or beneficiary.
- a)different classes of claimants or beneficiaries, or (
- b)different benefits.”. Amendment of section 250 of Principal Act. 13.— Section 250 of the Principal Act is amended— (
- a)in subsection
- e)for the purposes of answering or clarifying any questions that the social welfare inspector may have consequent on the inspection of the premises or place, to summon— (
- i)the occupier of the premises or place, (
- ii)any person who is or has been employing persons there, (iii) such person as may be designated by the occupier or employer as competent to answer or clarify any such questions, (
- iv)any employee of a person referred to in subparagraph (
- i)or (ii), or (
- v)any person found in the premises or place who the social welfare inspector has reasonable cause to believe to be or to have been an insured person, to attend at that premises or place or at an office of the Minister, at any reasonable time specified, by written notice, and sent or given to him or her by— (I) delivering it to the person, (II) leaving it at the said premises or place, (III) leaving it at the address at which the person ordinarily resides, (IV) sending it by post in a prepaid registered letter to the said premises or place, or (V) sending it by post in a prepaid registered letter to the address at which the person ordinarily resides.”, (
- b)by substituting the following subsections for subsections
- a)the person’s principal place of business, (
- b)the address at which the person ordinarily resides, or (
- c)an office of the Minister.
- a)the person’s principal place of business, or (
- b)the address at which the person ordinarily resides. (12A) A person who fails to comply with a written request to produce records under subsection
- a)stop any vehicle, and (
- b)on production of his or her certificate of appointment where so requested— (
- i)question and make enquiries of any person in the vehicle or in the vicinity of the vehicle, and (
- ii)require such person, where the social welfare inspector reasonably suspects that the vehicle is being used in the course of employment or self-employment, to give to the social welfare inspector any record relating to the employment or self-employment of such person which such person has possession of in the vehicle.”. Allocation of personal public service number in certain circumstances. 14.— Section 262 of the Principal Act is amended— (
- a)in subsection
- b)Where a person who has a transaction with a specified body is under the age of 18 years, the following information shall be given to the Minister in relation to that person by that person’s parent or guardian— (
- i)the information specified in paragraph (a), and (
- ii)the public service identity of— (I) his or her mother and father, or (II) his or her guardian or guardians. (
- c)Where a person who has a transaction with a specified body is certified by a registered medical practitioner to be a person who is or is likely soon to become unable for the time being to manage his or her own financial affairs, the following information shall be given to the Minister by any person appointed to act on behalf of that person in accordance with regulations made under section 244
- i)the information specified in paragraph (
- a)in relation to the person so certified, and (
- ii)the public service identity of the person so appointed to act on behalf of that person.”, and (
- b)by substituting the following subsection for subsection
- a)the person to whom the personal public service number concerned refers, (
- b)the parent or guardian of the person under the age of 18 years to whom the personal public service number concerned refers, (
- c)a person who has been appointed to act on behalf of a person in accordance with regulations made under section 244
- b)to whom the personal public service number concerned refers, (
- d)a specified body, (
- e)a person who has a transaction with a specified body where the personal public service number is relevant to the transaction between the person and the specified body, or (
- f)a person who is required to comply with section 260, 261 or 261A or regulations made under section 260, who uses a personal public service number or seeks to have a personal public service number disclosed to him or her is guilty of an offence.”. Cancellation and surrender of public services card. 15.— The Principal Act is amended by inserting the following section after section 263: “Cancellation and surrender of public services card. 263A.—
- a)the Minister becomes aware of a fact or a circumstance, whether occurring before or after the issue of the public services card, that would have required or permitted him or her to refuse to issue the public services card under section 263 to the person had the Minister been aware of the fact or the circumstance before the public services card was issued, (
- b)the Minister is notified that the public services card is, without lawful authority or reasonable excuse, in the possession or control of another person, or (
- c)the Minister is notified by the person, or by another person who has been appointed to act on behalf of that person in accordance with regulations made under section 244
- a)(amended by section 15 of the Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2010 ) of the Principal Act is amended in subparagraph (
- v)by inserting “or the scheme administered by An Foras Áiseanna Saothair and known as the national internship scheme” after “the Industrial Training Act 1967 ”.
- a)by inserting “during any week or part of a week” before “while he or she is engaged”, and (
- b)by substituting “the scheme referred to in section 298A
- b)(inserted by section 16 of the Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2011)” for “the programme referred to in paragraph (
- b)of subsection
- b)the scheme administered by An Foras Áiseanna Saothair and known as the national internship scheme, or (
- c)any variation, extension or replacement of the programme referred to in paragraph (
- a)or scheme referred to in paragraph (b), shall, for the purposes of any enactment or rule of law (other than the Tax Acts and the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 ), be deemed not to be an employee of the other person or to carry out such work or perform such duties pursuant to a contract of service.”.
- a)by substituting the following paragraph for paragraph (a): “(
- a)income arising from such employment or training or participation or placement in such scheme or programme as is prescribed,”, and (
- b)by deleting paragraph (
- aa)(inserted by section 27 of the Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2010 ).
- a)Substitute the following clause for clause (IV): “(IV) Part-Time Job Incentive, or”, and (
- b)Insert the following clause after clause (IV): “(V) the national internship scheme,” Section 298A
- b)Substitute “administered by the Minister” for “administered by An Foras Áiseanna Saothair” Schedule 3, Table 2, reference 12 (
- a)Substitute the following paragraph for paragraph (d): “(
- d)Part-Time Job Incentive, or”, and (
- b)Insert the following paragraph after paragraph (d): “(
- e)the national internship scheme;” Schedule 3, Table 2, reference 13 Delete “or the scheme administered by An Foras Áiseanna Saothair and known as the national internship scheme” Repayment of amounts due to be deferred, suspended or cancelled. 17.— The Principal Act is amended by substituting the following section for section 342: “Repayment of amounts due to be deferred, suspended, reduced or cancelled. 342.— Notwithstanding anything to the contrary and subject to section 342A, where a person is required to repay an amount of any— (
- a)benefit described in section 39
- c)child benefit, (
- d)respite care grant, (
- e)family income supplement, (
- f)continued payment for qualified children, or (
- g)payment pursuant to section 239, in accordance with this Act— (
- i)an officer of the Minister authorised by him or her for this purpose, or (
- ii)the Executive, in the case of supplementary welfare allowance, may, subject to the conditions and in the circumstances that shall be prescribed, defer, suspend, reduce or cancel repayment of any such amount.”. Repayment of amounts due arising from false or misleading statements or wilful concealment of facts. 18.— The Principal Act is amended by inserting the following section after section 342 (amended by section 17 ): “Repayment of amounts due arising from false or misleading statements or wilful concealment of facts. 342A.— Where a person is required to repay an amount of any payment referred to in paragraphs (
- a)to (
- g)of section 342
- a)a revised decision given by a deciding officer under section 302(a), (
- b)a revised decision given by an appeals officer under section 319(a), or (
- c)a revised determination given under section 325(a), the amount to be repaid in such circumstances shall not be reduced by the amount of any other payment referred to in paragraphs (
- a)to (
- g)of section 342 to which the person would otherwise have been entitled in the period to which the overpayment relates had he or she not been in receipt of the payment which gave rise to the overpayment.”. Supplementary welfare allowance — calculation of means. 19.— Part 4 of Schedule 3 to the Principal Act is amended in Rule 1
- a)“the Probate Office,” after “the Private Security Authority,”, and (
- b)“Sustainable Energy Ireland — The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland,” after “the Road Safety Authority,”. PART 3 Amendments and Modification to other Enactments Exclusion resulting from membership of either House of the Oireachtas, European Parliament or local authorities. 21.— The Comhairle Act 2000 is amended by inserting the following section after section 18: “Exclusion resulting from membership of either House of the Oireachtas, European Parliament or local authorities. 18A.—
- a)is nominated as a candidate for election to either House of the Oireachtas or the European Parliament, (
- b)is elected as a member of either House of the Oireachtas or the European Parliament, (
- c)is nominated as a member of Seanad Éireann, (
- d)is regarded under Part XIII of the Second Schedule to the European Parliament Elections Act 1997 as having been elected to that Parliament to fill a vacancy, or (
- e)becomes a member of a local authority, he or she thereupon ceases to hold office.
- a)is nominated as a candidate for election to either House of the Oireachtas or the European Parliament, (
- b)is elected as a member of either House of the Oireachtas or the European Parliament, (
- c)is nominated as a member of Seanad Éireann, (
- d)is regarded under Part XIII of the Second Schedule to the European Parliament Elections Act 1997 as having been elected to that Parliament to fill a vacancy, or (
- e)becomes a member of a local authority, he or she thereupon stands seconded from employment by the Board and shall not be paid by, or be entitled to receive from, the Board any remuneration or allowances in respect of the period commencing on such nomination or election, or when he or she is so regarded as having been elected, or when he or she becomes a member of a local authority, as the case may be, and ending when such person ceases to be a member of either such House or such Parliament, or such local authority, as the case may be.
- a)is nominated as a candidate for election to either House of the Oireachtas or the European Parliament, (
- b)is elected as a member of either House of the Oireachtas or the European Parliament, (
- c)is nominated as a member of Seanad Éireann, (
- d)is regarded under Part XIII of the Second Schedule to the European Parliament Elections Act 1997 as having been elected to that Parliament to fill a vacancy, or (
- e)becomes a member of a local authority, on or after 1 July 2011.”. Amendment of National Minimum Wage Act 2000. 22.— The National Minimum Wage Act 2000 is amended in section 11 (amended by section 13 of the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act 2010 ) by substituting the following subsection for subsection
- b)by substituting the following section for section 3: “Levy. 3.— Subject to and in accordance with the provisions of this Act, there is, by virtue of this section, imposed upon, and there shall be payable by, every employer in respect of every employed contributor who is employed by the employer a levy (which shall be known as the ‘National Training Fund Levy’ and in this Act is referred to as the ‘levy’).”, and (
- c)in section 4— (
- i)by substituting the following subsection for subsection
- a)at the percentage rate specified in the Table to this subsection of the amount of the reckonable earnings in that week to which that payment relates where those reckonable earnings do not exceed €356 (or the equivalent thereof in the case of an employed contributor remunerated otherwise than on a weekly basis), and (
- b)at the rate of 0.7 per cent of the amount of the reckonable earnings in that week to which that payment relates where those reckonable earnings exceed €356 (or the equivalent thereof in the case of an employed contributor remunerated otherwise than on a weekly basis). TABLE Levy payable by employed contributor’s employer where the weekly reckonable earnings do not exceed €356 Period for which contribution payable 0.35 per cent 2 July 2011 to 31 December 2011 0.35 per cent 1 January 2012 to 31 December 2012 0.35 per cent 1 January 2013 to 31 December 2013 0.7 per cent 1 January 2014 to 31 December 2014 and each subsequent contribution year ”, (
- ii)by substituting the following subsection for subsection
- Disapplication of section 7 of Official Languages Act
- 24.— Section 7 of the Official Languages Act 2003 does not apply in relation to this Act. The text of this Act shall be made available electronically in each of the official languages as soon as practicable after its enactment. PART 4 Amendments to Pensions Act 1990 Chapter 1 Definition Definition. 25.— In this Part “Principal Act” means the Pensions Act 1990 . Chapter 2 Regulatory own funds Amendment of section 2 of Principal Act. 26.— Section 2 of the Principal Act is amended in subsection
- a)substituting— (
- i)the following definition for the definition of “actuary”: “ ‘actuary’, in relation to a scheme or regulatory own funds trust RAC, means a person appointed in pursuance of this Act as actuary, for the purposes of this Act, of the scheme or regulatory own funds trust RAC;”, and (
- ii)the following definition for the definition of “Directive”: “ ‘Directive’ means Directive 2003/41/EC 1 of the European Parliament and of the Council as amended by Directive 2009/138/EC 2 of the European Parliament and of the Council and Directive 2010/78/EU 3 of the European Parliament and of the Council;”, and (
- b)inserting the following definitions: “ ‘actuarial funding certificate’ has the meaning assigned to it by section 42; ‘credit institution’ means a credit institution within the meaning of Article 4.1 of Directive 2006/48/EC 4 of the European Parliament and the Council relating to the taking up and pursuit of the business of credit institutions which is authorised in accordance with and for the purposes of that Directive; ‘funding standard’ shall be construed in accordance with section 44; ‘regulatory own funds certificate’ has the meaning assigned to it by section 53J; ‘regulatory own funds scheme’ has the meaning assigned to it by section 53E; ‘regulatory own funds trust RAC’ has the meaning assigned to it by section 53E; ‘relevant scheme’ means a scheme to which Part IV applies by virtue of section 41;”. Amendment of section 40 of Principal Act. 27.— Section 40 of the Principal Act is amended by deleting the definitions of “actuarial funding certificate”, “funding standard” and “relevant scheme”. Amendment of section 41 of Principal Act. 28.— Section 41 of the Principal Act is amended by substituting the following paragraph for paragraph (
- a)of subsection
- a)this Part shall apply to— (
- i)a defined contribution scheme which is a regulatory own funds scheme, (
- ii)a defined contribution scheme which is paying benefits to or in respect of members where those benefits are not secured under a policy or policies of assurance with one or more undertakings, and (iii) a small scheme of the type referred to in paragraph (
- b)of subsection
- a)in the case of a relevant scheme which on 23 September 2010 was a regulatory own funds scheme, not later than 6 months after the date on which Chapter 2 of Part 4 of the Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2011 comes into operation; (
- b)in the case of a relevant scheme which commences after 23 September 2010 and which from the relevant scheme’s commencement is a regulatory own funds scheme— (
- i)not later than 4 weeks after the date of commencement of the relevant scheme, or (
- ii)not later than 4 weeks after the date on which Chapter 2 of Part 4 of the Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2011 comes into operation, whichever is the later; (
- c)in the case of a relevant scheme which at its commencement was not a regulatory own funds scheme but becomes a regulatory own funds scheme after 23 September 2010— (
- i)not later than 4 weeks after the date on which the scheme becomes a regulatory own funds scheme, or (
- ii)not later than 4 weeks after the date on which Chapter 2 of Part 4 of the Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2011 comes into operation, whichever is the later. (1C) While a relevant scheme to which this Part applies remains a regulatory own funds scheme each actuarial funding certificate submitted after the appropriate effective date referred to in subsection (1B) shall have an effective date not later than one year after the effective date of the immediately preceding certificate. (1D) Where, in accordance with subsection (1B) or (1C) an actuarial funding certificate has been prepared and the relevant scheme subsequently ceases to be a regulatory own funds scheme, any subsequent actuarial funding certificate shall have an effective date not later than 3 years after the effective date of the immediately preceding certificate.”, (
- c)in subsection
- c)in subsection (3A) by inserting “(other than a regulatory own funds scheme)” after “the trustees of a scheme”. Amendment of section 50 of Principal Act. 31.— Section 50 of the Principal Act is amended— (
- a)in subsection
- c)and (d): “(
- c)funding proposals certified by an actuary in accordance with section 49; (
- d)annual statements made by an actuary in accordance with section 55; (
- e)regulatory own funds trust RAC technical provisions certificates prepared by an actuary for the purposes of section 53G; (
- f)regulatory own funds certificates prepared by an actuary in accordance with section 53J.”. Regulatory Own Funds Schemes. 35.— The Principal Act is amended by inserting the following new Part after Part IVA (inserted by section 42 of the Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2010 ): “PART IVB REGULATORY OWN FUNDS SCHEMES Interpretation. 53E.— In this Part, except where the context otherwise requires— ‘biometric risks’ means risks linked to death, disability and longevity; ‘funding standard liabilities’ in relation to a regulatory own funds scheme which is a relevant scheme, means on any date the aggregate of the liabilities and estimated expenses referred to in section 44, calculated as if the actuary had prepared an actuarial funding certificate having that date as the effective date and as if the percentage referred to in section 44(a)(
- v)was 100 per cent; ‘regulatory own funds certification date’ shall be construed in accordance with subsection
- a)underwrites any liability to cover against biometric risks, (
- b)guarantees a given investment performance, or (
- c)guarantees a given level of benefits; ‘regulatory own funds trust RAC’ means a trust RAC which— (
- a)underwrites any liability to cover against biometric risks, (
- b)guarantees a given investment performance, or (
- c)guarantees a given level of benefits; ‘regulatory own funds trust RAC technical provisions certificate’ means a certificate prepared by an actuary certifying if, in the opinion of the actuary, the resources of the regulatory own funds trust RAC at the effective date of the certificate would have been sufficient to satisfy the technical provisions requirement, if the regulatory own funds trust RAC had been wound up on that date; ‘technical provisions’ means— (
- a)in relation to a regulatory own funds scheme on any date the regulatory own funds scheme’s funding standard liabilities, (
- b)in relation to a regulatory own funds trust RAC on any date, were the regulatory own funds trust RAC to be wound up on that date, the sum of the value of the liabilities of the regulatory own funds trust RAC to provide benefits in accordance with the rules of the trust RAC and the estimated expenses of administering the winding up of the trust RAC calculated in accordance with any applicable guidance specified in regulations; ‘technical provisions certification date’ means the effective date as construed in accordance with section 53G; ‘technical provisions requirement’ means in relation to a regulatory own funds trust RAC, the requirement to hold resources to provide for the technical provisions, and references in this Part to ‘satisfying’ the technical provisions requirement mean that the regulatory own funds trust RAC holds sufficient resources to at least satisfy that requirement; ‘undertaking’ has the meaning assigned to it by the Insurance Act 1989 . Application. 53F.— This Part applies to a regulatory own funds scheme and a regulatory own funds trust RAC other than— (
- a)a scheme which the Minister has by regulations made under section 52 excluded from the application of Part IV, (
- b)a scheme which is a statutory scheme to which section 776 of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 applies and where benefits are paid in whole or in part out of moneys provided from the Central Fund or moneys provided by the Oireachtas and the rules of which provide that an appeal may be made to a Minister of the Government, (
- c)a scheme or trust RAC the winding up of which has commenced, (
- d)a one-member arrangement, (
- e)a scheme or trust RAC the only benefits under which are payable in respect of the death of a member where those benefits are fully secured under a policy or policies of assurance with one or more than one undertaking. Regulatory own funds trust RAC technical provisions certificate. 53G.—
- a)in the case of a trust RAC which on 23 September 2010 was a regulatory own funds trust RAC, not later than 6 months after the date on which Chapter 2 of Part 4 of the Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2011 comes into operation; (
- b)in the case of a trust RAC which commences after 23 September 2010 and which from the trust RAC’s commencement is a regulatory own funds trust RAC— (
- i)not later than 4 weeks after the date of commencement of the trust RAC, or (
- ii)not later than 4 weeks after the date on which Chapter 2 of Part 4 of the Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2011 comes into operation, whichever is the later, (
- c)in the case of a trust RAC which at its commencement was not a regulatory own funds trust RAC but becomes a regulatory own funds trust RAC after 23 September 2010— (
- i)not later than 4 weeks after the date on which the trust RAC becomes a regulatory own funds trust RAC, or (
- ii)not later than 4 weeks after the date on which Chapter 2 of Part 4 of the Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2011 comes into operation, whichever is the later.
- a)sufficient resources to satisfy the technical provisions of the regulatory own funds scheme or the technical provisions requirement of the regulatory own funds trust RAC, as appropriate, and (
- b)additional resources over and above the resources referred to in paragraph (
- a)to serve as a safety capital to absorb any discrepancies between the anticipated and actual expenses and profits of the regulatory own funds scheme or the regulatory own funds trust RAC.
- a)to the extent that the benefit payable on death or disability of a member or other person entitled to benefits under the regulatory own funds scheme or regulatory own funds trust RAC comprises a lump sum benefit, the amount of that lump sum benefit on death or disability, and (
- b)to the extent that the benefit payable on death or disability of a member or other person entitled to benefits under the regulatory own funds scheme or regulatory own funds trust RAC comprises the purchase of an annuity, the payment of a sum by instalments or any other kind of periodical payments, the current value of that benefit calculated in a manner which is consistent with the determination of the regulatory own funds scheme’s or regulatory own funds trust RAC’s technical provisions, less the regulatory own funds scheme’s or regulatory own funds trust RAC’s technical provisions in relation to those persons.
- b)securities issued under the laws of a Member State (other than the State) that correspond to securities referred to in paragraph (a), or (
- c)cash deposits with one or more credit institutions, and the proportion of the technical provisions of the regulatory own funds scheme or the regulatory own funds trust RAC to which such increased percentage shall be applied shall be calculated in accordance with the formula— A x B/C where— A is the amount of the technical provisions of the regulatory own funds scheme or the regulatory own funds trust RAC, B is the amount of the resources of the regulatory own funds scheme or the regulatory own funds trust RAC invested in assets other than those referred to in paragraph (a), (
- b)or (c), and C is the amount of the resources of the regulatory own funds scheme or the regulatory own funds trust RAC.
- a)the regulatory own funds scheme or regulatory own funds trust RAC satisfies the regulatory own funds requirement, or (
- b)the regulatory own funds scheme or regulatory own funds trust RAC does not satisfy the regulatory own funds requirement.
- a)a relevant scheme which is a regulatory own funds scheme shall be the same as the effective date of the actuarial funding certificate prepared for the regulatory own funds scheme under subsection (1B) or (1C) of section 43, or (
- b)a regulatory own funds trust RAC shall be the same as the effective date of the regulatory own funds trust RAC technical provisions certificate prepared for the regulatory own funds trust RAC under section 53G.
- a)in the case of a relevant scheme or trust RAC which on 23 September 2010 was a regulatory own funds scheme or a regulatory own funds trust RAC, not later than 6 months after the date on which Chapter 2 of Part 4 of the Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2011 comes into operation; (
- b)in the case of a relevant scheme or trust RAC which commences after 23 September 2010 and which from the relevant scheme’s or trust RAC’s commencement is a regulatory own funds scheme or regulatory own funds trust RAC— (
- i)not later than 4 weeks after the date of commencement of the relevant scheme or trust RAC, or (
- ii)not later than 4 weeks after the date on which Chapter 2 of Part 4 of the Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2011 comes into operation, whichever is the later; (
- c)in the case of a relevant scheme or trust RAC which at its commencement was not a regulatory own funds scheme or regulatory own funds trust RAC but becomes a regulatory own funds scheme or regulatory own funds trust RAC after 23 September 2010— (
- i)not later than 4 weeks after the date on which the scheme or trust RAC becomes a regulatory own funds scheme or a regulatory own funds trust RAC, or (
- ii)not later than 4 weeks after the date on which Chapter 2 of Part 4 of the Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2011 comes into operation, whichever is the later. Failure to satisfy funding standard, technical provisions requirement or regulatory own funds requirement. 53L.—
- a)(
- i)in accordance with section 43, the trustees of a regulatory own funds scheme submit an actuarial funding certificate which certifies that at the effective date of the certificate the regulatory own funds scheme does not satisfy the funding standard, or (
- ii)in accordance with section 53G, the trustees of a regulatory own funds trust RAC submit a regulatory own funds trust RAC technical provisions certificate which certifies that at the effective date of the certificate the regulatory own funds trust RAC does not satisfy the technical provisions requirement, or (
- b)in accordance with section 53J or 53M, the trustees of a regulatory own funds scheme or regulatory own funds trust RAC submit a regulatory own funds certificate which certifies that at the regulatory own funds certification date the regulatory own funds scheme or regulatory own funds trust RAC does not satisfy the regulatory own funds requirement, they shall submit to the Board a proposal (in this Part referred to as a ‘regulatory own funds proposal’) in accordance with this section.
- ii)where paragraph (a)(
- ii)of subsection
- b)where paragraph (
- b)of subsection
- a)do not submit a regulatory own funds certificate within 3 months of the regulatory own funds certification date, (
- b)do not submit a regulatory own funds proposal under subsection
- a)to wind-up the regulatory own funds scheme or the regulatory own funds trust RAC with effect from such date and subject to such conditions as the Board may consider appropriate, and (
- b)to take, by such date as the Board may specify, such one or more of the measures specified in subsection
- a)to cease or modify future accrual of benefits, (
- b)to cease to accept further contributions from or in respect of members, (
- c)to refrain from making investments of a specified class, (
- d)to— (
- i)maintain funds, or (
- ii)effect insurance of a value, equal to the whole or a specified portion of the regulatory own funds scheme’s liabilities.
- ab)by inserting “or regulatory own funds trust RAC” after “actuary of a scheme”, (
- d)in subsection
- b)by substituting “The actuary to a scheme or to a regulatory own funds trust RAC or the auditor of a scheme or trust RAC may request” for “The actuary to or the auditor of a scheme or the auditor of a trust RAC may request”, and (
- e)by substituting the following subsection for subsection
- b)by inserting “other than a small scheme which is a regulatory own funds scheme” after “a small scheme” where it first occurs, (
- c)in subsection 2(
- d)by inserting “other than a small trust RAC which is a regulatory own funds trust RAC” after “a small trust RAC”, and (
- d)by inserting the following subsection after subsection
- c)by inserting “or regulatory own funds trust RAC” after “liabilities of the scheme”, (
- b)in subsection
- a)of this Act applies, or” for “section 31(
- a)of the Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2005 applies, or”, (
- d)in subsection
- iv)by inserting “other than a small scheme which is a regulatory own funds scheme” after “a small scheme”, and (
- e)by substituting the following subsection for subsection
- a)Subject to paragraph (
- b)this section shall not apply to a small trust RAC. (
- b)This section shall apply to a small trust RAC which is a regulatory own funds trust RAC.”. Amendment of section 64D of Principal Act. 39.— Section 64D
- a)in paragraph (
- b)by substituting “which policies or contracts are—” for “which policies or contracts are approved—”, (
- b)in subparagraph (
- i)of paragraph (
- b)by substituting “approved by the Revenue Commissioners” for “by the Revenue Commissioners”, and (
- c)in subparagraph (
- ii)of paragraph (
- b)by substituting “certified by the Board” for “by the Board”. Certification of certain policies or contracts of assurance. 41.— The title to Part IVA of the Principal Act is amended by substituting “CERTIFICATION OF CERTAIN POLICIES OR CONTRACTS OF ASSURANCE” for “APPROVAL OF CERTAIN POLICIES OR CONTRACTS OF ASSURANCE”. Amendment of Part IVA of Principal Act. 42.— Part IVA (inserted by section 42 of the Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2010 ) of the Principal Act is amended— (
- a)by substituting the following section for section 53B: “Certification of certain policies or contracts of assurance. 53B.—
- a)to provide the sums payable to the scheme in respect of some or all of the benefits in relation to a person who, under the scheme— (
- i)is receiving benefits, or (
- ii)has reached normal pensionable age, or (
- b)to discharge the liability of the scheme for some or all of the benefits payable to or in respect of a person who under a scheme— (
- i)is receiving benefits, or (
- ii)has reached normal pensionable age.
- b)by substituting the following section for section 53C: “Register of policies or contracts of assurance certified under section 53B. 53C.— The Board shall— (
- a)keep a register in which there shall be entered such particulars as may be prescribed, for the purposes of this Part, in relation to policies or contracts of assurance that have been certified under section 53B and such register shall be open for inspection by any member of the public at all reasonable times on payment of such fee as the Board may determine, and (
- b)maintain, in accordance with regulations, an up to date database of information relating to particulars referred to in paragraph (a).”, and (
- c)by repealing section 53D. Amendment of section 59 of Principal Act. 43.— Section 59