Emer Higgins (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for her kind remarks and I look forward to working with her. The purpose of the general scheme of the employment (restriction of certain mandatory retirement ages) Bill 2024 is to implement a key recommendation related to mandatory retirement age, which is included in the Pensions Commission recommendations and implementation plan.

As recommended by the Pensions Commission, this proposed legislation will deliver a statutory provision which will allow, but in no way compel, an employee to stay in employment until the age at which they can first access the State pension, which is 66. The measure will improve older workers’ adequacy of income in retirement and reaffirm our long-standing policy to support longer and fuller working lives.

The membership of the Pensions Commission included representation of workers, employers, civil society, academics, and those with technical and policy expertise. The commission held a full public consultation process and a virtual stakeholder forum. The report of the commission is a comprehensive and authoritative report based on various analyses of population, labour force and expenditure projections; an examination of international approaches; and responses to an extensive consultation process with stakeholders.

In the interests both of older people and future generations of older people, the Government took the time to carefully consider the recommendations.

There was a series of discussions on the various options and recommendations through the Cabinet committee structure. The views of the joint committee on social protection and the Commission on Taxation and Welfare were also taken into account.

In addition to the extensive consultation carried out by the Pensions Commission in producing its report, my officials have consulted with employer and employee representatives through discussions at LEEF. They have also met separately with stakeholders, on request, to brief them on the policy proposals. Furthermore, all other Departments have been consulted to identify any professions where a statutory retirement age below the State pension age is provided for in law. Officials have also engaged with the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to ensure that full consideration is given to employment equality aspects of the proposal.

The Deputy asked if the Government will engage with stakeholders and the answer is "Yes". We are engaging with stakeholders and will continue to do so.

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