Dublin: The National Women’s Council (NWC) has raised concerns that Ireland’s much-anticipated Auto-Enrolment Pension Scheme could exacerbate societal inequalities, particularly for women. A research report titled ‘The Pensions Auto-Enrolment from a Gender and Care Lens,’ commissioned by the NWC, highlights significant shortcomings in the scheme, which is set to launch in September 2025.
Authored by Oisín Gilmore, a senior economist at TASC, with support from the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission, the report criticises the scheme for failing to address structural inequalities in the pension system. Instead of reducing disparities, it may unintentionally widen the pension gap, particularly for women.
The key critique of the scheme lies in its heavy focus on paid employment, which overlooks unpaid care work and other social contributions—areas where women disproportionately contribute. According to the report, the scheme does little to benefit low-wage, part-time workers and low-income earners, who are predominantly women. This oversight exacerbates the already significant gender pension gap, currently standing at 35%.
The Auto-Enrolment Pension Scheme, described as one of the most significant reforms to Ireland’s pension system, aims to expand occupational pension coverage. However, the NWC’s Director, Orla O’Connor, expressed disappointment, stating that the scheme “has completely failed to address inequality in the pension system.” The report also notes that increasing occupational pension coverage is unlikely to narrow the gender pension gap meaningfully.
Instead, the NWC advocates for a comprehensive approach that addresses these systemic inequities. The report calls on the government to develop a universal pension system that considers unpaid care work and ensures equitable access for all, regardless of income or employment type. Additionally, it recommends improving both the coverage and quality of pension provisions to create a more inclusive and equitable system.
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