Anne Ferris (Wicklow, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank the organisations and individuals who have made very powerful presentations on their own stories. They are very moving and it is a very personal issue for them as they approach retirement age. I had not realised staff in the Irish Prison Service had to retire at the age of 60 years. When I introduced the Bill last year, many people contacted me to tell me their stories. I was delighted when the Bill was chosen. When one introduces a Private Members' Bill, it is included in a lottery to be given the opportunity to debate in one of the two Friday Dáil sittings per month.

I was over the moon when my proposal saw the light of day in the Dáil. That it has now come as far as Committee Stage means it will not die, as do the many Private Members' Bills which do not get a hearing. Even if it does not get through before Ms Haughton's retirement, it will, I hope, become law during the next Dáil.

I do not have any questions because the witnesses are preaching to the converted. I know all of their stories and am aware of the major anomalies that exist in this area. The delegates from the Law Society raised a number of issues that can and will be teased out. The Bill was drafted by a senior counsel who is now a judge. If there is a need for further clarity on certain provisions, it can be achieved on Committee Stage. The main anomaly under the current regime is that people are being forced to retire at age 65 and, because they cannot claim their pension until age 66, they are obliged to seek jobseeker's benefit and apply for jobs they do not want. The biggest culprit in this regard seems to be the Health Service Executive. This is not just a matter for the Department of Justice and Equality. It is a broader equality issue which the Department of Social Protection, the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation and others must take on board. If the pension age is pushed out to 67 or 68 and people are obliged to work until that age, then the whole area of pension provision will have to be reviewed.

I thank the Chairman for accommodating this debate. It is not often that a Private Members' Bill proceeds to Committee Stage so quickly after First Reading in the Dáil. I am obliged to the Chairman and committee staff for their efforts in this regard. A great deal of work has gone into these proposals and I assure the delegates that I will keep pressing the legislation. If the good people of Wicklow and east Carlow return me to the Dáil after the election, I will work on it further.