Michael Collins backs Retirement Bill, calls to reinstate age 65
Michael Collins spoke in support of the Employment Contractual Retirement Age Bill 2025, arguing it protects workers forced to retire before the state pension age of 66 and stops employers penalising those who want to continue working. He proposed reinstating the contractual retirement age to 65 and urged wider pension reforms for CIE pensioners and women left without adequate pensions.
The speaker endorsed the Employment Contractual Retirement Age Bill 2025, summarising that it allows employees to opt not to retire where a contractual age is below the state pension age of 66 unless the employer has a valid reason. He said the bill prevents employers from penalising employees who wish to continue working, aims to bridge the income gap for early retirees, encourage longer working lives and support broader pension reforms.
He recounted a constituent from West Cork whose non-contributory pension was withdrawn after taking time abroad on medical advice following an operation. The speaker highlighted this example as evidence of unfair treatment of older people trying to enjoy retirement or recover from illness.
The speaker noted that CIE pensioners in the 1951 scheme have received no pension increases approved by the CIE Board since 2008, despite rises for active staff. He said many CIE pensioners paid class D1 and do not qualify for the state pension, while the consumer price index has increased by 20.8 per cent, state pensions by 24 per cent and active CIE salaries have risen about 30 per cent since 2016 — yet pension increases for these retirees have been nil.
The speaker drew attention to women who have worked at home and been left with little or no pension, or whose pension entitlements are tied to a husband’s income. He said these women deserve recognition and a fairer pension outcome and urged that this aspect be addressed alongside the bill.
He asked the minister to consider additional improvements alongside the bill, including allowing capable people to continue working past retirement, enabling community and local groups to retain experienced workers, and restoring respect and fair treatment for elderly pensioners.
Bill support and proposals
The speaker endorsed the Employment Contractual Retirement Age Bill 2025, summarising that it allows employees to opt not to retire where a contractual age is below the state pension age of 66 unless the employer has a valid reason. He said the bill prevents employers from penalising employees who wish to continue working, aims to bridge the income gap for early retirees, encourage longer working lives and support broader pension reforms.
Case raised in the Dáil
He recounted a constituent from West Cork whose non-contributory pension was withdrawn after taking time abroad on medical advice following an operation. The speaker highlighted this example as evidence of unfair treatment of older people trying to enjoy retirement or recover from illness.
CIE pensioners' concerns
The speaker noted that CIE pensioners in the 1951 scheme have received no pension increases approved by the CIE Board since 2008, despite rises for active staff. He said many CIE pensioners paid class D1 and do not qualify for the state pension, while the consumer price index has increased by 20.8 per cent, state pensions by 24 per cent and active CIE salaries have risen about 30 per cent since 2016 — yet pension increases for these retirees have been nil.
Women's pension issues
The speaker drew attention to women who have worked at home and been left with little or no pension, or whose pension entitlements are tied to a husband’s income. He said these women deserve recognition and a fairer pension outcome and urged that this aspect be addressed alongside the bill.
Calls for further measures and respect for the elderly
He asked the minister to consider additional improvements alongside the bill, including allowing capable people to continue working past retirement, enabling community and local groups to retain experienced workers, and restoring respect and fair treatment for elderly pensioners.
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Transcript
The Employment Contractual Retirement Age Bill 2025 in Ireland aims to help employers who are forced to retire before the state pension age of 66. It allows employees to choose not to retire at the contractual age if it is below 66, unless the employer has a valid reason. The bill also prevents employers from penalising employees who wish to continue working past the retirement age. Its goal is to bridge the income gap for early retirees, encourage longer working lives and support broader pension reforms to ensure stable and predictable retirement incomes which we support in independent Ireland. I propose that the retirement age be reinstated to its original threshold of 65 years. Additionally, individuals who are capable and willing to continue working beyond this age minister should have the right to do so. The problem is that we have so many issues in relation to people that deserve a bit of respect. I have a gentleman whose pension was withdrawn from a few weeks ago and I raised this in the Dáil. He had an operation in my own constituency, West Cork, at the end of the year and his doctor advised him to take some time abroad if he could. He did and his pension was taken away from him. The funny thing is that he is on a non-contributive pension. Yes, but it is on the pension. You are speaking what is beyond the retirement age, the same as Deputy Lawless. Yes, and I am talking about this gentleman who is beyond the retirement age. Yes. So would you let me talk and let me finish. It may be the time that I have. Well, I would be saying to keep the relevant equity. It is very relevant. There are the rules. The unfairness of a person that is trying to enjoy a little bit of life at 75 years of age. That is very unfair. I think that needs to be looked in as part of this bill going forward. We certainly would look at that. Look at Bus Airden as well. Up to 2008, CIE pensioners were awarded increases to their pensions. In Lydewood, pay increases to active staff. No increase in pensions has been approved by the CIE Board since 2008. The whole point I am trying to make, young Cora, is that this could also be brought in under this bill going forward. These are people who have not got a pension increase. They are in your constituency, they are in my constituency. Since 2008, for 16 years, despite repeated requests and representations, the majority CIE pensioners, who are members of the 1951 scheme, have no other income. They do not qualify for the state pension because, as public servants, they paid class D1, which was not a choice when they joined CIE. It was only the option. The consumer price index has increased by 20.8 per cent. The state pensioners have increased by 24 per cent, before adding the living and loan loans and fuel loans. Since 2016, CIE salaries for active staff have increased by approximately 30 per cent. The increase for pensioners has been nil. That is the point I am trying to make. This bill is very, very important. We are supporting this bill going forward. There are other improvements that need to be made. Their elderly years need a little bit more respect. That is not being afforded to them at this present time. I just named a few of the issues there. There are CIE workers coming to me, looking to see if they stay working. That has been refused to them. Community employment workers and local community volunteer groups are desperate to keep these workers on board. They can keep them on board. So I would appreciate that you might look into these other issues as well. Women's pensions, that is a hugely important issue. How many women come to us that are in retirement, that have worked hard on their life at home and have been left without a pension? That is a very unfair situation that people find themselves in. I would ask that while this bill is going in the right direction, and as I said we are supporting that bill, that others, other areas like that, where women have worked hard and deserve that credit in their life and have been refused that little bit of extra pension, or even a pension at all, or much of their pensions are based on their whole husband's income. That has to stop. That has to stop. These women deserve that respect and that, unfortunately, is not afforded to them. I would ask, as well as supporting this bill, that these other areas need serious looking at the Minister. So to give the ease of mind, as I said, I am very concerned about a lot of the women who basically work very hard on that zero pension in some cases. That is not good enough for a state that prides itself in looking after it. It certainly has not looked after a certain amount of women that have come to me down through the years, and I found that they have been left wide open in relation to any kind of pension. You cannot base pension on basically your husband's salary or your husband's pension as such, and that has to stop. Thank you. Deputy Richard.