Ms Margaret Haughton:

I thank the joint committee for inviting me to discuss the Bill which should be passed to amend the Employment Equality Act 1998 to abolish mandatory retirement ages for those able and willing to continue in the roles in which they were employed. I will be 65 years old in January 2016 and due to retire, as my contract states. I am well and healthy and feel I could work for at least another three to five years. It is an absolute disgrace in this day and age that workers are being forced into retirement against their will when there are so many role models of older citizens working creatively and contributing so much to the economy.

I work as a dental nurse for the HSE. It makes no sense for a skilled, competent and widely experienced dental nurse to be asked to cease employment based on a mere number on the calendar. Given my knowledge and experience, my compulsory retirement would be particularly disadvantageous to the service. The age factor should be removed when considering suitability and necessity for retirement. The Government has already increased the retirement age in the public sector to 68 years, thereby recognising people's capability to perform their duties competently past the retirement age of 65. People of sound mind and body should be allowed to work for as long as they choose. Retirement should be voluntary. We, therefore, need to remove the age factor.

I fully support Deputy Anne Ferris and hope the Bill will be passed and enshrined in law before my retirement date. I do not know if that will happen, but it would be great if it did.