If you open a cash fund with Zurich, they basically open an AIB Deposit Account for you. They send you a bill once a year for hundreds (maybe thousands of Euros). It's a scam, pure and simple.
A cash pension fund is a simple savings scheme, it is not a complex financial instrument. The Govt could easily open a product, similar to the State savings scheme to allow people to avail of the tax relief and build a secure fund. This would be particularly useful to people who are turbo charging their pension with final year payments, maximising the allowable contributions. They, generally, have no desire for risk, but will do very well from the tax relief, especially if they are 40% payers.
Once individuals reach pensionable age and have a sizable fund then there may well be value to be had from paying a professional financial advisor to organise the best pension arrangements. But the saving bit, that's just money for old rope.