Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)

Some people wish to work longer while some wish to retire earlier. There may be people who have no particular desire to work at all, although they would be few in number. We must provide a good system of pensions in retirement which, in particular, allow for the different types of lives people live. Women, for instance, often drop in and drop out of the labour force because they may take time out when rearing small children. Women and men also may take time out when caring for older relatives. The pension structures we are evolving must reflect the diversity and complexity of modern life and work patterns. That makes sense rather than representing a threat to people.

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