James O'Connor (Cork East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for being present. It is great to have this question selected before the summer recess.

I had a fascinating meeting in my constituency office, of which this Topical Issue is the brainchild. I met with a retired public health worker who had worked as a midwife. Without going into too many specifics, it was one of the most interesting exchanges I have had since election to this House. They explained how they worked a lifetime in the health service, reached the age of 60 and retired. They worked, paid tax and made their contribution to their workplace. Anyone who works in a healthcare setting around maternity healthcare knows it is an extraordinarily privileged role but a challenging one. They see many joyous occasion in people’s lives and, from time to time, unfortunately, great tragedy.

I was struck by what they told me about the process around the supplementary pension, which is available to retirees to make up the shortfall in pension during the period between the date of retirement and eligibility for the State contributory pension. For retired healthcare workers, this system is key, as it is for any civil servant. I had not really realised that, when it comes to eligibility, there is a requirement for them to sign on the live register, whether it is down the route of the jobseeker's allowance or other payments. It unfortunately requires regular clocking in and being on the live register, which is demeaning for somebody who has worked all their lives and is at what is supposed to be at the end of their career. Midwifery is an incredibly challenging job involving unusual hours and massive stress and retiring at 60 is not to be necessarily frowned upon where people are eligible for it.

I wholeheartedly stand with the lady who came to the office in her mission to see how this could be changed. If somebody has worked all their lives, it is hard for them to have to collect social welfare until they come to the retirement age and to have to go in. The jobseeker's allowance is not necessarily appropriate. It is nothing disparaging against people on jobseeker's allowance. It is traumatic for anybody to lose their job but people’s mindset is often, for good reason, such that they do not take pleasure in having to queue up and sign forms for the simple thing of retiring. That to me is unacceptable. It is something we should look at as a State, recognise and try to solve.

I understand the difficulty when it comes to changing these systems. I found it fascinating during the pandemic when it came to adjusting the pandemic unemployment payment, employment wage subsidy scheme and other schemes. I was never aware of the extraordinary costs involved in changing the system. The Minister, Deputy Humphreys, was very informative and helpful. I pay tribute to her, as I always try to do. This one is different because it is a long-lasting issue that, in time, people will come to benefit from. I would like to see what the response is from the Department. I thank the Minister of State for stepping in for the Minister and providing the answer to the House. This individual had a fabulous case. It is something I admit I was not au fait with. I am only 26. It will be interesting to see the Department's response.

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