Paddy Burke (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I very much welcome the Public Service (Age of Retirement) Bill 2018. It is great to see that the age of retirement is being increased up to 70 years of age. We know people are living longer and they want to work longer. Life expectancy has increased and people are living far healthier lives. They eat better and take more exercise. It is only right that this Bill caters for people who work in the Civil Service, who are the only ones who had to retire at the age of 65. It is great that the age has been increased to 70.

I do not intend to hold up the Bill but I have a number of questions to put to the Minister of State. One concerns superannuation payments. When people have paid their 40 years' worth of contributions, most of them have paid for their pension. They might have it paid at 65 but if they work until they are 70, will they no longer have to pay the superannuation contribution?

Job sharing is very much a feature of the Civil Service and the public service. I do not see how job sharing could continue after one would reach the age of 65 because if one was on a full pension one would be entitled to half one's pay from the pension. Why would somebody work half a week in addition to whatever he or she would be getting in a pension payment? The only exception would be someone who had not accrued full pension rights who might see it as an opportunity to bring up his or her pension requirements to the 40 years' service.

I welcome the Bill and wish the Minister of State well with it. As Senator Horkan said, there are quite a number of people in the Houses such as ushers who have been caught out and I hope something can be done to rectify the position and give them their full entitlements.