Women still short-changed when it comes to retirement

Opinion is divided on how to make pensions more equal, but one thing is clear: the three ‘pension pillars’ need a radical overhaul sooner rather than later

Young women continue to be over-represented in lower-earning sectors such as retail, hospitality and administration

For decades, shelves and cupboards in the departments of Social Protection and Finance have been groaning under the weight of reports and studies about pension reform. Another one landed this month, this time from the ESRI, about gender pension gaps.

The government think-tank found that men received an average of 35 per cent more in retirement income. Quoting the Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing 2008 report, it found that the average male pensioner ...