Richard O'Donoghue (Limerick County, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Many people who are 65 years old have jobs whose job description requires them to retire at that age. The new contracts people sign now refer to 66 years. If one is 65 years of age and has worked all one's life, one has reached retirement age. However, some people do not receive their pension until they are 66 years old. They have to sign for jobseeker's payment at 65 years of age. I do not believe that is right.

Those who have worked the full number of years and who have to retire from their jobs at 65 are being brought in and asked to sign up for jobseeker's benefit. We have to find another system or else allow people who want to work the extra year until they are 66 to do so and then give them an extra benefit for doing that. That should be done rather than asking people to sign up for jobseeker's benefit for one year when they have been lucky enough to have spent their entire lives not having to go on social welfare. It is similar to a person having a full driving licence but getting a point on it just as he or she retires.

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