Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank everyone who has contributed in such a meaningful way to the debate this evening. There were some technical issues raised by Deputy Barry Ward. I will ask the officials in the Department to go back to him directly. His remarks were quite technical. I have some notes here but since he is not in the Chamber himself, it would be important and useful if the officials could revert to him directly. Directly Lawless raised some issues on gender and I am ably assisted by the Department here with a note to say that it is not in the scope of this Bill. We would address the carers and PRSI contributions can be claimed from the Department of Social Protection and can be a significant benefit for the contributory State pension. I do not know if that answers Deputy Lawless but I will ask the officials again to respond to him specifically on that.

The Bill implements the recommendations of the Pensions Commission on the matters of contractual retirement ages. It implements a recommendation that has been the subject of substantial debate, public discourse, research, analysis and consultation involving all relevant stakeholders. In addition to the Pensions Commission's public consultation process and stakeholder forum, this proposal was discussed extensively at meetings of the labour, economic and employment forum, and officials separately held a number of meetings with key stakeholders. That will put everyone's mind at ease in today's debate.

I am satisfied that the Bill we are discussing here today is a robust and well balanced legislative provision. It will facilitate any worker who wants to continue in employment until they first access the State pension. It will also make necessary the provision for limited cases where a lower retirement age may be required. It is a positive step in improving adequacy of income for older workers and reaffirms all our outstanding policy to encourage and support longer and fuller working lives.

I acknowledge two other points that were raised by Deputy Mattie McGrath around the personal assistants. I wholeheartedly support everything he and others have raised today about those particular workers especially.

They deserve the recognition and the State supports those in every other walk of life get, particularly in our education and training boards, ETBs, and further education.

One of the other points raised was that we have a huge shortage of skilled workers, of people with experience. It is a big opportunity to keep people who want to continue to work. "Want" being the important word. This Bill goes a long way in achieving that. I thank all of the Members for their contributions as well as the Ceann Comhairle.

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