Ms Corona Joyce:

I will begin with the point made about mandatory retirement. We would welcome more efforts and work being done to have a greater discussion and quicker movement on the issue because it is creating significant uncertainty in people's lives. As I mentioned, some people will choose to work longer and some may not, while others will have to work longer.

We receive many calls about jobseeker's allowance. Psychologically, it can be difficult to have to retire from work and then go on the dole. People receive a reduced rate for a period of time which they find particularly difficult, given the rising cost of living.

The most recent OECD work on pensions recommends looking at flexible contracts and retirement dates. Flexible retirements dates have not worked, for example, in Germany. A combination of a flexible retirement date and allowing access to a proportion of a pension payment seemed to be a greater incentive and resulted in a higher take-up. Throughout the OECD area 50% of people aged over 65 years engage in part-time work. Some further work could be done on that issue.

On the specific question of whether we are satisfied with the TCA or the universal pension, my colleague will comment on that issue, but the options are worth exploring. Anything which would give greater certainty to older people coming up to and in retirement would be positive. There are options which are worth exploring. We would have more of a focus on something which would provide a greater rate and more security. Mr. Scully will talk about that issue.

On auto enrolment, we welcome anything which will lead to greater security in retirement and older age. There are a few questions we and others have about the implementation of such a scheme, including fund administration and the privatisation of risk, a matter the committee has previously discussed. The UK example was discussed. I understand early on the scheme was found to be affecting women disproportionately because of the rate and age at which it was set. A slight tweaking and modification of the scheme took place in the United Kingdom. We should be mindful of the lessons learned in other countries.

On whether the amount of €5 is our main concern, there is a €16 gap with the State pension. Indexing it at 35% of average earnings was a commitment given in the national pensions framework. Our concerns also relate to secondary income support because that is where people are finding that day-to-day living has been affected. We welcome the changes to the fuel and telephone allowances, but there is a need for progress and a restoration of these allowances.