Pádraig Rice (Cork South-Central, Social Democrats)
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413. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the status of the Employment (Contractual Retirement Ages) Bill 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48043/25]

Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The Employment (Contractual Retirement Ages) Bill 2025 was published on 1 April 2025.

The Bill will deliver a new employment right by providing that, in general, an employer may not enforce a contractual retirement age which is below the State Pension Age (age 66) if the employee does not consent to retire.

The Bill completed Committee Stage on 2 July 2025.

The timeline for the enactment of the Bill is a matter for the Oireachtas, and the Bill is expected to resume progress during the Autumn session. Once enacted, 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 of this new employment right.

There are existing guidelines available to both employees and employers to assist them in following best practices when dealing with retirement. The WRC’s Code of Practice on Longer Working sets out guidance for employers, employees and their representatives to follow during the engagement between employers and employees in the run up to retirement, including responding to requests to work beyond the retirement age.