Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Why does the Minister insist that community employment, CE, scheme supervisors must retire when they reach the age of 66, regardless of their ability and their willingness to continue in their post, especially in light of the Department's decision not to put in place a pension for those same employees as instructed by the Labour Court in 2008? The case arose last week of Elizabeth McAuliffe, a CE supervisor in Limerick, for 20 years who was forced to retire, despite the fact that she wishes to continue to work and that the scheme will also continue. Is the Minister aware that there is no legal retirement age in the State and that both in the UK and in the US, compulsory retirement age has been outlawed?

The Minister of State's party colleague, Deputy Anne Ferris, has put forward legislation to outlaw such a practice in this State.

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