The Pensions Authority

Mr David Begg (Chairperson)

Dr. David Begg was appointed Chairman of the Pensions Authority in 2016. He is a former Secretary General of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions and was CEO of Concern Worldwide from 1997 to 2001. He has served on the boards of a number of public and private sector bodies including the Central Bank, Aer Lingus and the Irish Times Trust. He is currently Chairman of the Mater Misericordiae and Children’s University Hospital group and of Barnardos children’s charity. He holds master’s degrees in International Relations and Theology from DCU and a PhD in Sociology from Maynooth University. He is adjunct professor at the Maynooth University Institute of Social Sciences.

Mr Michael McGrath

Assistant Secretary General, Department of Finance
(Representative of the Minister for Finance)

Mr. McGrath was appointed a member of the Pensions Authority in February 2020. Since September 2017, Michael has responsibility for the development of domestic and EU/International policy and legislation in relation to financial services (including insurance and pensions, funds, financial markets and anti-money laundering policy). He also has management responsibility for the Department’s internal Legal Unit. He was seconded to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) as Ireland’s Alternate Executive Director of the IMF Board (2014-2017). Before that, he was the A/Sec. of the EU & International Division for a 2-year period and between 2007 and 2012 he was the A/Sec. with responsibility for the Economics & Budget Division. He previously served on the National Economic and Social Council, the National Statistics Board, and a range of senior EU economic and fiscal committees. He is currently the Vice-Chair of the EU Financial Services Committee.  He holds a BA (economics and sociological & political studies) from UCG, an MA (economics) from UCD, an MSc (taxation) from DCU and a post-Graduate Higher Diploma (Statistics) from TCD.

Ms Deirdre Shanley

Assistant Secretary General, Department of Social Protection

Deirdre was appointed a member of the Pensions Authority in March 2024. Deirdre has responsibility for Control Operations in the Department of Social Protection. She previously had the role of Chief Financial Officer in the Department and has also served on the Management Board of the Department of Education as Head of Schools Division. She holds a Batchelor of Commerce, an MA in Public Management, an MA in Innovation Management and a Professional Diploma in Business Finance.