Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

My understanding of the legislative position is that the pension age is due to increase to 67 in 2021 and 68 in 2028. That is the current position but the Government can change it if it wishes. The reason advanced for the change is the demography, that is, the ratio of pensioners to the people who pay for the pensions, a difference that will increase dramatically over the next 20 or 30 years. I was interested in what Deputy Brady said about what is happening in other countries. I would like to see not just the age limits from other countries but also the comparative statistics, that is, the ratio of pensioners to contributors. I do not imagine that would cost an awful lot of money. I take the Minister's point about public consultation and so on but comparative research, not least against European countries, would be a one or two-day job. If the public consultation provision is omitted, the amendment should be acceptable.