Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Tá áthas orm a bheith ag caint ar an rún seo ó thaobh pinsean de atá curtha chun tosaigh ag mo chomhghleacaí i Sinn Féin anocht. Tabharfaidh mé glór do chuid de na daoine ó Thír Chonaill a bhí i dteagmháil liom agus a thuig tábhacht an rúin seo

The motion before us has two principles, the principle of equality and the principle of fairness. It calls for the restoration of the right to retire at the age of 65. It also calls for the abolition of mandatory retirement so that workers have the right to continue to work beyond the age of 65, if that is their wish. It further calls for immediate legislation to stop the pension age increasing to 67 in January and to ensure that it is not subject to any review or scrutiny later.

The motion calls for the restoration of the right to retire at the age of 65, a right that is earned by those who have worked their entire lives. They have paid their taxes. They have earned their pension. In 2012, Fine Gael and the Labour Party, with the support of Fianna Fáil, pushed changes in the State pension through the Dáil without any consideration of the impact they would have on those who rely on the State pension. In 2014, the pension age effectively rose to 66 when the State pension transition payment was abolished by Fine Gael. At the same time, many employment contracts stipulate the end of employment when the worker turns 65. Thousands of 65-year-olds have been forced to sign on for jobseeker's allowance or jobseeker's benefit since Fine Gael abolished the State pension transition payment. That is fact.

I was talking today to one of those workers affected by Fine Gael's policies. She has worked for a well-known bank since 2001. She was told by her employer that she would be laid off on her 65th birthday on 15 October, a nice birthday present from the Fine Gael Government. She told me that she had no choice but to sign on the dole for jobseeker's payment, another nice present from the Fine Gael Government. More than 4,000 65-year-olds are denied their State pension and are currently in receipt of jobseeker's allowance or jobseeker's benefit. The difference is €45. That is more than €2,300 per year. It is unacceptable. It is unfair and it must stop. Those people are not unemployed; they are retired.

Some workers want to retire at the age of 65. Others want to work beyond the age of 65. They deserve a choice and they have earned it. I commend the motion. Sinn Féin is very clear. We believe that the increase to 67 should not happen ever. We believe that the right to retire at the age of 65 with a pension should be granted. That is what we would do and what we are committed to doing.

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