This first chapter describes briefly the objectives of the review of the Irish pension system, commissioned to the OECD by Ms Joan Burton, Minister of Social Protection. The review consists of a comprehensive analysis, covering all parts of Ireland’s retirement income provision (the state scheme and other public benefits, personal and occupational plans and schemes for public-sector workers). The review addresses the challenges of the Irish pension system in terms of retirement-income adequacy, financial sustainability, equity and modernity. In doing so it takes also into account of a substantial body of work carried out by a number of Irish institutions, while acknowledging their contributions to the pension policy debate.