Aideen Hayden (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I agree with the Minister of State on the demographic profile of the population. We have a significantly aging population that is not just living longer, but is living more healthily. People want to engage in the workforce for longer. We have equality legislation and ageism is one of the grounds set out in it. There is evidence out there of ageism in the workforce and of people over the age of 60 being discriminated against. The age of retirement for all State and semi-State employment should dovetail with any social welfare provisions. That is critically important. We should not have a scenario where people are obliged to retire from any occupation related to State activity that does not coincide with an entitlement to social welfare payments.