Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I will be coming back to this in any event as we are examining the legislation surrounding it.

In the context of the budget, it is important to understand that in terms of the sustainability of Irish debt, one of the agreements made with the troika in 2010 was to review pension conditionality and pension ages. That review, which was agreed by the former Government in 2010 and formed part of the conditionality of the deal Ireland struck with the troika, has resulted in a much greater sustainability of the Irish social welfare system overall.

It is important to recognise that while people would not receive the full State pension, transition, which is disappointing for many people, they will be entitled to jobseeker's benefit. I agree with Senator Healy Eames that it may be possible to consider changing employment legislation in regard to allowing people to develop contractual rights to work for the longer period. Again, unfortunately, like the last point, that is not within the remit of my Department. However, it is certainly something I would be very happy to see consideration given to by the appropriate Minister.