Dáil debates
Wednesday, 15 June 2011
Leaders' Questions
10:30 am
Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
Beginning in January 2014, approximately 11,000 workers will reach 65 years of age and should be going on to the State contributory pension. Today, the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Joan Burton, intends to ram a Bill through the Dáil which will mean these workers will not get a cent at 65 but will have to work another full year. The Minister also intends to ram through an increase in the age for receipt of the State pension to 67 years in 2021 and thence up to 68 years. Has the Taoiseach any appreciation of how socially regressive these measures are? Has he any appreciation of how heartless these Government proposals are?
It will hit hardest the lowest paid workers who have paid their taxes and worked all their lives. It will hit hardest the men and women who work in the most difficult employment areas. How would the Taoiseach like to be forced to work on a construction site until he was 70 years of age? I note the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Alan Shatter, finds that amusing. I do not think people out there will find it so when they discover what is in store for them.
Mary Lowndes
Posted on 16 Jun 2011 4:25 pm (This comment has been reported to moderators)
The people who will suffer are the people who work the hardest, cleaners, labourers etc. I do not think it is fair to ask these poor people to work past 60 years. It is my experience that people doing manual work for low pay all their lives end up with arthritis, sciatica and other illnesses from the work.
The work they do is essential for the smooth running of society and yet the pay is poor and the pension when they get it is not enough for a decent life. Most of the low paid manual workers would not have chosen that awful life if they had went through a school system which would have given them a good education and developed their potential. Most older people including myself was nearly murdered by the corporal punishment in national schools and we have got no apology from the state.
Hard working people of 60+ years after a childhood destroyed by corporal punishment and their hearts shattered from years of the most horrible work are entitled to a life and to have the time and money to enjoy their families and their hobbies for their remaining few years