Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

46. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the status of the Employment (Restriction of Certain Mandatory Retirement Ages) Bill 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30126/24]

Emer Higgins (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

In March 2024 Government approved the drafting of the Employment (Restriction of Certain Mandatory Retirement Ages) Bill 2024, which will implement a key commitment included in the Government’s response to the Pensions Commission Recommendations and Implementation Plan.

The purpose of the Bill is to align mandatory retirement ages in employment contracts with the State Pension age, age 66, where an employee does not consent to the mandatory retirement age. This element of consent reflects the fact that many employees may want to retire at the contractual retirement age.

Since Government gave approval to draft this Bill in March the General Scheme was referred to the Joint Oireachtas Committee for pre-legislative scrutiny. The Committee published its report on 24 May.

The General Scheme was also referred to the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel for drafting, which is underway. Officials are working closely with drafters to ensure that this will be a robust and well-balanced legislative provision which facilitates any worker who wants to continue in employment until they can first access the State Pension. It also makes necessary provision for the limited cases where a lower retirement age may be required.

Once drafted, it is anticipated that the Bill will commence its passage through the Houses of the Oireachtas during the Autumn session.

There will be an appropriate lead-in time in advance of commencement of the legislation during which there will be a communications campaign to ensure employers and employees fully understand the implications.