Louis O'Hara (Galway East, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

As we know, many workers who have a contractual retirement age lower than the pension age are being forced out of their jobs and this can lead to significant drops in income for workers. It is also insulting to people who have worked their entire lives to be forced out of their jobs before they can access the full pension. This has caused significant hardship for many older citizens. Many people find purpose in their work. They enjoy going to work every day and they want to continue contributing to society. They enjoy the social aspect of being in the workplace with friends and colleagues. Being forced to retire can leave people feeling isolated and suffering with their mental health. We know that older workers have a lot to offer, a wealth of knowledge and skills built up over a lifetime of work, and that should be recognised. As such, this conversation is very welcome.

Sinn Féin has previously brought forward proposals on this issue. We have long called for the removal of retirement clauses in employment contracts. Thousands of workers who turned 65 this year will have their working lives cut short and be forced into retirement because of delays in enacting this legislation. There needs to be urgency in implementing this so that workers have the choice to continue on, if they so wish.

The Minister must go further and restore the right to a full pension at the age of 65. After a lifetime of work, people deserve the right to retire on a full pension or to continue to work if they choose to do so. They should be given the freedom to make that choice. It is about choice, because people who have had a lifetime of working on their feet in hospitality or doing hard labour on construction sites simply cannot be expected to continue working into their late 60s and beyond. People who have worked hard and given all they can at the age of 65 should have the right to retire on a full pension. At the same time, there must be flexibility for workers who wish to continue working beyond the pension age, but it should be on their terms. That would be a fair and pragmatic approach. It would respect the right of workers to retire with dignity at 65 if they so wish, while also respecting the contributions of those who wish to remain active in the workplace. It gives maximum choice to workers, which would benefit the economy and society. That must be taken on board by the Government, which must listen to workers and treat them fairly.

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