Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

------and her public and private patients, yet she was forced to retire at that stage. I believe that was the genesis of Senator White's idea of bringing forward this Bill which is, as the Minister agreed, a great opportunity for the Government to discuss the issues involved in this very interesting area.

With regard to the Garda, the Minister himself has extended the time of the Garda Commissioner for an extra two years to 62 years of age. Unfortunately, there were many defects with the early retirement scheme, which should have been far more discriminatory as regards those who were really required to stay in the service. We have lost numerous gardaí, sergeants, detectives, superintendents and others who left due to the attractive offer, with all of their knowledge being lost.

Some say that older people could become job blockers for younger people. Similar arguments were used before the abolition of the marriage bar for women in the public service in 1973, following our entry to the European Union that year. That was terrible discrimination. Women in the public service actually had to retire when they got married. Only for-----