Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The name of the Bill is the Public Service Superannuation (Age of Retirement) Bill, and it refers to pensions. The Government has to have an age set so that we can forecast how much public service pension will cost. Section 3A(2) states that subject to subsection (3), the Minister may, by order, prescribe an age being higher than 70 years but not higher than 75. This amendment takes out the phrase "not higher than 75". The Minister can change the age in the future. This Bill is about the public service pension drawdown and is not about telling people they must retire. Many people leave the public service on a pension and continue to work in a private or self-employed capacity.