Denise Mitchell (Dublin Bay North, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputies O'Reilly and Kerrane for bringing this important motion to the House tonight. People should be entitled to retire at the age of 65 on a full State pension if that is their choice. It is unacceptable that they are expected to sign for jobseeker's benefit at the age of 65. The decision to get rid of the State pension transition payment was cynical and that must be reversed. The sum of €45 a week might not sound like a lot of money to some, but it makes a big difference to people who are struggling to make ends meet. It is heartless to expect people to wait for their pension and then to go on and penalise them in the process.

People had their voices heard during the last election. They told us they want the option to retire at 65. Talk of increasing the pension age to 67 or 68 targets those who are in the last few years of their working life. The Government is seeking to move the goalposts just when these people are looking forward to retiring. This debate should be about giving people a choice. Many people want to work beyond the age of 65, even well into their 70s. They should have the right to do that if they feel fit to do so, but we must act now and give people a right to access their pension at the age of 65 if that is what they want to do. They have worked and contributed to their pension for 40 or 50 years. The Government cannot continue to treat those reaching the age of 65 with such disrespect. They have been the backbone of every sector in society for the past four or five decades and they deserve to be treated with dignity by the Government. I hope everybody will support the motion tonight.

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