Auto-Enrolment Pension or Is It Auto-Tax? Episode 607

Today on the show, Niall opens the phones on the new auto-enrolment pension scheme — or as many listeners are already calling it, “paying for your own pension.”

From 1 January 2026, a new scheme called MyFutureFund will automatically enrol workers who don’t already have a payroll pension. If you’re aged 23 to 60, earn €20,000 or more a year, and aren’t paying into a pension, you’ll be enrolled whether you like it or not. You, your employer, and the Government will all contribute — and you won’t be able to opt out for at least six months.

Employers will be legally required to take part, with fines and penalties for non-compliance. Even workers who don’t meet the criteria can opt in voluntarily, as long as they’re over 18 and under pension age.

But critics say this isn’t generosity — it’s spin.

They argue the real reason for auto-enrolment is simple:
Ireland’s population is ageing, birth rates are falling, and the Government knows it won’t be able to afford the State pension in 20 years’ time. So instead of fixing the problem, they’re shifting the burden onto workers and small businesses — while the State puts in a relatively modest contribution of its own.

Sceptics also question how small employers are supposed to afford mandatory matching contributions, why opting out isn’t immediate, and whether this is the first step toward quietly replacing the State pension altogether.

Is this a sensible long-term solution — or just another tax dressed up as a benefit?
Are you happy to be auto-enrolled, or do you feel you’re being forced to pay for government mismanagement?

Niall wants to hear from workers, employers, and anyone concerned about what this really means for your pay packet and your future.