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

Amendment No. 4, from Deputy Barry Cowen, was accepted in the Dáil. I pointed out that any potential remedies that related to the cohort of workers to which he referred would be likely to require further legislative change, which would be a matter for the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. The amendment inserts a new section 3A(6) and requires a report to be prepared by the Minister within three months of the enactment of the Bill. The report will address the issue of public servants who were required to retire at the age of 65 in the period between the Minister's announcement of the policy change, which was 6 December 2017, and the commencement date of the necessary legislation, including potential remedies, as referred to by Deputy Cowen, to assist the group in question. Many of the group availed of the interim arrangements, which enabled them to retire and be rehired for one additional year on a fixed-term basis up to the age of eligibility for the contributory State pension, which is 66. Many did not avail of it, because of the clarity given at the time by the Government, but they will cease work on reaching the age of 66 and are not covered by the legislation.