Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)

There is no doubt that the numbers are much higher than in previous years, and we carried out a survey to find out why. It showed that approximately half of those retiring gave "planned retirement" as their main reason, one third highlighted concerns about future taxation of their lump sum and the impact of recent levies and the remainder tended to cite general reasons such as lifestyle etc., and wanted an opportunity to avail of the good life in retirement rather than continue teaching.

See this speech in context