Irish government considers sovereign annuity bonds

Ireland's Department of Social Protection is considering proposals that would see pension schemes purchasing annuities invested in government bonds to help fund liabilities.

The move, put forward in a joint plan by the Irish Association of Pension Funds (IAPF) and Society of Actuaries in Ireland (SOAI), would mean pension funds would be able to lower their deficits, as they would have to set aside less money to cover liabilities in the event of a scheme winding up.

Some three quarters of Irish d