It will not be too long before the public will be able to take out pension products over the Internet, according to FMS, the Dublin software company. Its new product "E' Quote Pensions" is due to become available in December in Britain and Ireland. It will allow customers to input their details, including their required benefit of premium. The new product follows the launch of E'Quote Life (www.fins.ie) which involves sales of life products over the Net.

The life version has already interested some product providers in Britain and the US, although Irish companies have still to take the cyber-plunge.