John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

We need the legislation. It should be in place as soon as possible, because the interim arrangements are certainly not attractive for anybody. The Minister is saying people should have the opportunity to remain in the workforce, but there is no incentive for them to do so if they are coming back on a lower pay scale and terms and conditions different from those which they were previously employed under. We need to see the legislation, and it needs to be brought forward as quickly as possible. I have spoken to numerous public sector workers who are reaching retirement age. These interim arrangements do not make it attract for them and there is no incentive to remain on. We need legislation for this as quickly as possible.

The legislation I published seeks to ensure there will be no mandatory retirement age for any worker, whether in the public or private sector. The Minister is sitting on that legislation. We are waiting on a money message from Government to ensure it can get to Committee Stage, where it can be advanced.

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