Kathleen Funchion spoke in support of a motion to protect the right to retire at 65, arguing people should not be forced to continue working or move onto transitional job-seeker payments. She raised concerns about the abolition of the state pension transition payment, pension inequality for women, and the rising cost of living for older people.
Motion and support
Funchion thanked her colleagues Deputy Louise O'Reilly and Deputy Clare Curran for bringing the motion and said she expects broad support. She said she did not hear opposition on the doors in the last general election and argued society should ensure people who wish to retire at 65 can do so.
Employment contracts and transition payments
She noted that some employment contracts stipulate an end of employment at 65 and that, since the abolition of the state pension transition payment, thousands of 65-year-olds have had to sign on for a job seeker's payment or job seekers allowance. Many of those affected told her they do not want to go through signing on after a lifetime of work.
Women and pension inequality
Funchion highlighted that women outnumber men in the over-65 age group but account for only one third of those receiving a full state contributory pension. She referenced calls from the Women's Council for a rethink of pension policy to place equality and dignity for older women at the centre.
Cost of living for older people
She warned that many pensioners feel like a forgotten category as the cost of living rises while increases to pensions can be minimal, citing examples of paltry €5 rises and the increased reliance on medical services and higher fuel costs. She said age-friendly initiatives exist but often lack follow-through in practical supports.
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Thanks very much. First of all, I want to thank my own colleagues, Deputy Louise O'Reilly and Deputy Clare Curran for bringing forward this important motion tonight. Raising the pension age was a significant issue. I think others have mentioned that on the doors in the last general election. I personally did not hear anybody disagreeing with any of the meetings or any of the debates I was at, so I do not think there should be any difficulty with everyone supporting the motion here this evening. We as a society should be striving to ensure that if you want to retire at 65, then that choice is yours. Of course, we do know that some people, you know, prefer, and that is their personal choice, they would like to continue to work. However, you should not have to continue to work. You should be able to retire at 65 if you wish. And a number of employment contracts stipulate an end of employment date in line with an employee turned 65. And since the abolition of the state pension transition payment, thousands of 65-year-olds have had to sign on for a job seeker's payment. And obviously, you know, I come across a lot of people who just, they do not ever want to put themselves through that. They happen to go in and start to sign on for any sort of a transitional payment. They feel they have worked hard. Many of the people we are talking about have been working since they were teenagers. And they feel they should be able to get the pension at 65 without having to get a sort of an in-between payment, let's say, or job seekers allowance. I also want to mention the issue of women when we are talking about pensions. Because actually, women outnumber men among the age category of over 65. However, only one third of those in receipt of a full state contributory pension are women. So I know that the Women's Council were calling for a rethink on the pension policy to one that places equality and living with dignity in our older years at the centre. And I just want to take the opportunity to mention that, because again, here we have women being failed by the state. I do not think any of us at this state are surprised by that, but it is an important issue. Time is limited, so I want to say that obviously I think this is a really important issue. And I want to really briefly mention that many people who are receiving a pension have often said that they do feel like the forgotten category in the country, because their cost of living has increased and yet every now and again they get a paltry €5 increase. So it is just important that we remember that category of people as well. Cost of living doesn't go away just because you turn 65, 66. And it is very, very difficult sometimes for people to live on that, particularly when you are more dependent on maybe medical services and your fuel costs and everything else in terms of being elderly. So I just think it is important. We are great in this country for setting up, you know, age friendly and all these types of initiatives, but we are not very good then on following through on actions that support them. Thanks.
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