The Irish public has put this into the same box as the Special Saving Incentive Accounts, introduced by then finance minister Charlie McCreevy in 2001, which offered a five year guaranteed 25 per cent State-funded top-up. Experience shows that investing in the financial markets offer a significantly higher long-term return than leaving money in a bank deposit. A Swedish-style limit might keep the bulk of most Irish people’s pot free of any charge. Irish savers money may indeed go into companies listed on the stock market – but there are few enough Irish ones and most will go into global funds. And anomalies in investment tax which need to be ironed out.

Source: The Irish Times April 05, 2026 15:02 UTC