John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I welcome Deputy Chambers's overall comments in support of the Bill. We will do away with any age restrictions because age is a figure on a piece of paper. In many circumstances, people do not feel as old as that piece of paper states. To use a terrible cliché, 80 is the new 70 and 70 is the new 60. That is the case for many people because of healthier lifestyles. The Bill will remove any age restrictions in any contract. It will allow an employee to remain in work longer and it just means that people can work longer. They can also retire so it gives people choice. I do not foresee any difficulties in those circumstances. If people in the public service want to retire at 65, it will give them that option and if they want to continue working beyond that age, there will be no age restriction within the contract.