Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I fully support the principle of the Private Members' motion and, in particular, those workers who have been looking forward to being able to retire in peace and security at a time of their choosing. The motion notes that "every worker in the State makes a considerable tax contribution throughout their working life and should have the right to retire at 65" and that while some workers want to retire at 65, we also need to acknowledge that others wish to remain on at work when they are able and willing to do so. Unfortunately, a policy is creeping in whereby some companies are not allowing workers to remain on. That is something that needs to be addressed. We should be able to find a means of facilitating a happy medium whereby workers who have given long service are not compelled to keep working, but those who wish to remain on are allowed to do so.

Last year, the then Minister for Social Protection and Employment Affairs stated that the rationale for the increase in the pension age is twofold. First, to recognise that due to improvements in health and working conditions, people have the capacity and desire to work beyond what was traditionally seen as retirement age and, second, as life expectancy increases, to help maintain the sustainability of our pension system. However, that statement is open to wide interpretation. One could just as easily read it as meaning that workers are being penalised for being able to grow old in good health. Surely if a worker has reached 65, is in good health and wishes to retire with a reasonable expectation of being able to access contributions built up over a lifetime, he or she should be able to do so.

I wish to conclude by making the point that the issue of CE scheme supervisors' pensions has dragged on and on. It needs to be resolved. These people need to be respected.

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