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

In 2007, when Fianna Fáil and the Green Party were in government they wanted to raise the retirement age to 67 in 2021 and to 68 by 2028. The Fine Gael-Labour Party Government wanted to introduce this in 2011. There are people throughout this country of pensionable age who were not eligible for the €350 Covid-19 payment because they were self-employed.

The Rural Independent Group asked for the pension payment to the self-employed to be set at the same level as the Covid-19 payment everyone else was getting but the Government refused to do this. Self-employed people of pension age are still working because they have dependants to support. We have to support everybody. Pensions are being paid for by the next generation and the previous generation is now of pensionable age. We have to ensure everyone is looked after and receive the same benefits, regardless of whether they are over 65 years.

The pensionable age should be 65 years. Nobody should have to sign up for the jobseeker’s allowance at 65 years of age, having worked all of his or her life as it means the person has to be available for work. If people want to work longer, that is up to them but anyone who wants to retire at 65 years should be allowed to do so.

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