Speaking this afternoon, Sinn Féin spokesperson on enterprise, trade, and employment, Louise O’Reilly TD, said the government is failing older workers in every way imaginable as legislation to abolish mandatory retirement clauses stalls and a right to retire on a full pension at 65 is denied.

Teachta O’Reilly said:

“Sinn Féin have long called for the removal of retirement clauses in employment contracts in conjunction with restoring the state pension at 65.

“These were key issues in the 2020 General Election, and it is a complete failure of leadership that this government refuses to deliver these policy changes.

“Some months ago, the government brought forward half-baked legislation, in the shape of the Employment (Restriction of Certain Mandatory Retirement Ages) Bill 2024, to remove mandatory retirement clauses only up to the age of 66.

“While the legislation did not go far enough, it would have offered some respite to older workers who wanted to stay working until they tuned 66 – the age at which they could receive the state pension.

“However, it is clear now from reports in the media that the legislation to abolish mandatory retirement clauses will not become law in this Dáil term.

“After a lifetime of work, people deserve the right to retire on their pension rate at 65 or continue to work if they choose to do so.

“There is still time to introduce these changes, but it is clear the government doesn’t have the political will to deliver for older workers.

“This issue is not going away – the government must stop dancing around the issue and commit to allowing workers to retire at 65 with their pension rate or to continue to work if they choose to do so.”