Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy O'Reilly for giving me an opportunity to speak on this important motion.

During last year's general election, I was canvassing with the Sinn Féin president, Deputy McDonald, in Blackpool shopping centre in Cork. A number of people came up to us to explain how angry and frustrated they were at what they perceived as a betrayal by the previous Government and Fianna Fáil on the retirement age of 65. In particular, one man stood out. He told us he got his first job when he was 14 years old. He worked for 41 years non-stop in the same company, starting as a boy carrying wood and blocks to finishing up in management. He was retiring in March last year but the Government put him on the exchange. The previous Government put him on the dole, as he called it, and kept him on it. He said he never had a problem with jobseeker's allowance because whoever needed it was entitled to it. His problem was that after working for 41 years non-stop that the Government put him on jobseeker's allowance.

Where is the dignity and respect that people deserve? As Deputy O'Reilly said, they worked hard jobs all their lives such as in factories, shops and hospitals. They were denied the right to retire at 65 and, instead, were put on jobseeker's rate which is a lower rate than the pension rate. The Government said it will not oppose this motion. Will it support people who are 65 and give them the pension they deserve if they want to retire? Many people want to continue to work after 65 which we support. This is a rights issue. Many Government Deputies promised the retirement age and the pension for those people at 65. Those Deputies must stand by their word and live up to what they committed to.

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