Penrose says certainty needed for those who wish to work beyond 65

Labour spokesperson on Rural and Community Affairs, Willie Penrose TD, has called for the speedy introduction of legislation to raise the mandatory retirement age of public servants to 70 years, to provide certainty to those who want to work beyond the age of 65.

Deputy Penrose raised the issue with the Minister for Public Expenditure, Pascal Donohue in a Parliamentary Question.

Deputy Penrose said:

“There are many people working in the public sector who for many reasons, do not wish to retire at the age of 65, and are more than capable of continuing on and making a valuable contribution to the workforce for another few years.

“I am eager that such workers, if they voluntarily wish to do so, are permitted to work beyond that age.

“While I welcome the Government’s commitment to raising the mandatory retirement age to 70, I would like to see the legislation the Minister says is required progressed as quickly as possible, to provide certainty to those workers who are now approaching the age of 65

“The current arrangements which are being implemented on an interim or ad hoc basis, pending the passage of the necessary legislation, are neither attractive nor rewarding in my view, to those people who are in good health and volunteer to work on beyond the age of 65. So getting the appropriate legislation on the Statue books is absolutely essential for these people.”