John Crown (Independent) | Oireachtas source

At the time Bismarck introduced this policy, the average age at death of a German was 41. The average age at death of a German who was still alive at 65 was 67. On average, people lived two to three years after retirement. A woman who is alive at the retirement age of 65 now will live well into her 80s, as will a man. The average age at death is approximately 80 for a man and mid-80s for a woman. At a time when we cannot sustain the burden of pension debt, why are we forcing people who do not want to retire to do so? I do not get it at all and it makes no sense. I have seen very healthy and fit people. A particular surgical colleague of mine who was running a clinic, operating, teaching students and running a research lab one day was told the next by the State that he had to become its dependant. By the way, the same State subsequently hired him to a very full administrative role in which he is doing a very good job.