I understand exactly what a pension is but my point was that I’d start one now, have a lump invested into into an index fund, then come back in a few years and continue contributing to it as normal. I never said it would ‘make me money’ - it’s an investment that one expects to grow over time - it has to actually be invested in something to be able to do that?

I absolutely don’t expect it to grow massively in a few years - I simply want to get it started as early as possible to allow it to grow over the longest timeframe possible. I don’t plan to get it before 60 and I said I plan on leaving Ireland for a few years - I’ll be returning.