Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The practice has been embedded in people's minds for donkey's years and we need to change that. The only way to change that is to lead by example. If we can do something as a State to change people's mindset and, for example, encourage them to put off their retirement by incentivising them, a separate body of work will need to be done. The State will have to lead by example because it is not as simple as just bringing in legislation that says people have to retire at 65 because employee contracts have standing in law, and no law states people have to retire at 65. We, therefore, need to lead by example on that.

The stopgap payment suggested by the Senator is a super idea but we already do it. I am not sure if she has encountered people who have experienced difficulties. If so, she might send me information on that but we provide these payments, particularly for people who take up paid employment and who were used to a weekly payment from the State and who may have to wait a month for their wages. People cannot live on fresh air having taken up a job. We currently work with people and give them stopgap payments.