Mary White (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

It would not simply be rejected on grounds of fairness but also because some of the most effective politicians are people of maturity. Age is an advantage, not simply in politics but also in employment generally. I hope they will forgive me for doing so but I will cite Senators Quinn and Ó Murchú as proof of the point I wish to make.

People should be afforded choice and flexibility in respect of when they should retire. Many people will, no doubt, continue to wish to retire at 65 years of age. However, many people in both the public and private sectors who reach the age of 65 are desperately anxious to continue in work. We all know the heartbreak and trauma experienced by those who have to go over the cliff edge of compulsory retirement at age 65.

The law should facilitate those people by prohibiting discrimination based on age. This is not only a fair proposal but also a proposal that makes economic sense. It is apparent that public sector pension expenditure is very significant. If some public sector workers choose to stay on after 65 years of age, there would be no extra cost to the Exchequer if they work additional years. One of the arguments against this proposal may be that it will prevent younger people from gaining employment. I reject that argument and I believe it is unfounded.

First, the right to remain in a job after 65 years of age is not simply a right for those who have reached that age but it is also a right for all younger people who will reach that age in the future. Second, it is not an argument for the promotion of employment for young people to say that certain other workers should be forced out of the employment sector. A similar argument was made in the 1930s when the marriage ban for women was introduced. Married women were told they could no longer work because they would be taking jobs from men. It was a nonsense argument then and it is nonsense now. Self-employed people, politicians and members of the Judiciary, do not face mandatory retirement at 65 years of age. Why should people working in the public sector be forced to go at 65 years of age if they want to continue working and if they have both physical and mental capacity to do so? Why should employers in the private sector be entitled to dictate to an employee that he or she must cease work at a certain age? People are living longer and their health is improving. People in their late 60s and 70s are now well able to continue working. I believe the compulsory retirement age has a negative effect on the status of older people in Irish society. People over the age of 65 years should be allowed to continue working if they wish to do so. They should not be put out to pasture once they reach a certain age. Their employers should not be entitled to say that their service is no longer required. That is neither fair nor progressive. It is a brain-drain from public and private organisations of experience, judgment and expertise.

I ask Members of the House to support the legislation which will constitute a significant step to ensuring full equality in the workplace for all Irish citizens.