If we change our pension scheme benefits does each member of the scheme have to sign up to the change? We are partly unionised and plan to seek union agreement to any change.

The extent to which a member’s consent may be required to implement changes to pension scheme benefits will depend primarily on their existing terms and conditions of employment, the terms of the pension scheme’s rules and the provision of any agreements which may have been entered into with them.

Generally speaking, unless employees can demonstrate that they are contractually entitled to the existing pension scheme benefits under their terms and conditions of employment, it would be highly unusual to seek their consent prior to adopting any changes to the company’s pension scheme.

The vast majority of occupational pension schemes in Ireland are set up under trust. As such the manner in