Matt Shanahan (Waterford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Speaking of parliamentary systems, someone in Japan has to be nearly 70 before being considered for a Cabinet minister’s post. We have a different system, which is good.

There are certain tensions. Young people might say they are not getting a crack at good jobs early on because people are staying in employment for longer. That is a societal issue as much as an employment one. Perhaps the witnesses will speak to this point.

I will ask just one more question, as my time will be up shortly. Regarding people who want to retire at 65 but who are forced into the jobseeker’s payment, what discussions have the witnesses’ organisations had with the Department of Social Protection to get this anomaly addressed so that, if the retirement age is 65, people are able to access their pensions then?