Ivana Bacik (Independent)

We had a very full debate on Second Stage about the issue of the retirement age and about the merits of even having a mandatory retirement age. The Minister very fairly made the point that 70 is the maximum in the Bill and that it seems a reasonable proposition, while taking on board the very persuasive arguments put forward by Senators from both sides of the House about the merit of having a mandatory retirement age at all. Many people expressed the view that we should examine the possibility of abolishing the mandatory retirement age, in a human rights context. In the meantime, as the Minister has said, 70 seems to be a reasonable upper age.