APLI essay competition winners 2026
Council is delighted to announce the 2026 APLI essay competition winners:
- Louise Boylan, William Fry LLP, and
- Eoin McGloin, Arthur Cox LLP
Thank you to all those who took the time to take part!
The topic was “AI and the future of pensions law: risks, governance and trustee decision making”
- With reference to Irish law and regulatory developments (and drawing on UK/EU developments where relevant), describe the benefits and limitations of AI in the pensions industry and analyse the key legal risks for stakeholders, including regulatory, data protection and governance considerations. Would you recommend the introduction of a similar AI strategy or regulatory framework in Ireland as is proposed in the UK? 60 marks
- Analyse the impact of AI on trustee decision making, including the implications for fiduciary duties, delegation and reliance on AI outputs, with reference to trust law, legislation and regulatory guidance. 20 marks
- In light of the above, what practical and governance-focused advice would you give to pension scheme trustees seeking to embed AI tools in the administration of their scheme? 20 marks
- 1st Prize: €4,000
- 2nd Prize: €1,000