Ms Kathleen O'Toole:

I have been working in my present employment for just over 17 years and will reach 65 years of age on 15 February 2016. I work in retail, have extensive experience and certified skills and am well able to carry out all duties assigned to me. I feel I am being forced to retire against my will. I have made a request to my company to continue working until pension age, which for me is 66, but the company is refusing to discuss this issue with me or my union representative, making it clear that the retirement age is 65 years. There is no retirement age on my contract of employment. I am sure I will be replaced by someone on a lower wage and with a zero-hour contract. This represents a cost reduction towards the minimum wage, part of a race to the bottom.

I find it difficult to understand why the Government, when changing the pension age to 66 years, did not introduce legislation allowing people to stay at work until pension age or longer if they so wish. Why would anybody want to leave a job that he or she is experienced and skilled in after 17 years and have to look for another job? I find it ludicrous that I will be forced onto jobseeker's allowance against my will when I could, through the transfer of payments, continue to contribute to society. This will also result in a substantial drop in my income.

Older staff have a major contribution to make, and age is irrelevant. Many employers recognise the contribution that older, experienced sections of the workforce have to offer. In the retail sector, Tesco and SuperValu are just two examples of such employers. The State pension is inadequate, as the recent economic crisis has left many people with substantial debts and in need of money. Other countries have greater flexibility around keeping older staff in employment. Retirement should be an option and should not be compulsory. Forced retirement because of age is discrimination. I fully support the proposal from Deputy Ferris.