Give 65s right to retire - not the dole queue

ON January 1, 2021, the pension age in Ireland will increase to 67 years of age.

To stop this change, legislation is needed, however the government have not brought forward legislation.

Sinn Féin is tabling a ‘Right to Retire’ motion that seeks to restore fairness for people who have worked hard all of their lives.

Speaking prior to the motion, Mayo TD Rose Conway-Walsh stated: “In the middle of a pandemic, with record levels of youth unemployment, sending someone to a dole queue at age 65 is absurd and unfair. It has to end.

“The pension age was one of the biggest issues in the election in February.

“Voters expressed their opposition to this pension age increase through their support for Sinn Féin and other parties who had opposed these increases in the previous years.

“Every worker in the State makes a considerable tax contribution throughout their working life and should have the right to retire at 65.

“Some workers want to retire at 65, while others want to remain at work, where they are able and willing to do so. The motion also calls for workers to be allowed work past 65 if the wish (with exceptions for security-related employment).”

She continued: “Numerous employment contracts stipulate an end of employment date in line with when an employee turns 65, and since the abolition of the state pension transition payment thousands of 65-year-olds have had to sign on for a Jobseeker’s payment.

“There are now over 4,000 65-year olds in receipt of either Jobseeker’s Allowance or Jobseeker’s Benefit. There is a difference of €45.30 between the Jobseeker payments and the State Pension leading to an annual loss of €2,355.60.”

The Sinn Féin motion has four calls:

Restore the state pension transition for those retiring at 65 years of age;

Abolish mandatory retirement (with exceptions for security-related employment) to give workers the choice to work or retire so long as they are fit to do so

Make provision for those who remain at work beyond 65 to have their PRSI contributions counted towards their state pension;

Immediately introduce legislation to remove the pension age increase to 67 years and the further increases.