Ita O’Kelly

Why should an arbitrary age decided by politicians dictate when we retire

ARECENT call by the association representing Irish judges to extend the compulsory retirement age for the judiciary from 70 to 72 years raises interesting questions about when humans reach their ‘sell-by date’ in the workplace.

With life expectancy in Ireland now standing at 81.5 years, the question is should there by a compulsory retirement age at all.

Eligibility for the State pension will increase from 65 years to 67 in 2021. By 2028, it will rise to 68 years.

Undoubtedly, some people count down the days until they retire. Many others are not at all happy to be hurled out the door.

‘Put out to grass’ is the expression that many use – many who don’t wish to spend the rest of their days tending chrysanthemums or walking the dog, while being forced to eke out a meagre living on a small pension.

The question of age has arisen, and rightly so, with President Michael D Higgins – currently 77 years of age – in terms of his suitability for a second seven-year term in office. Should he be exempt from compulsory retirement, which is arbitrarily imposed on everyone else? If he was employed in the public service, he would have been forced to retire at 65.

However, he is merely a spring chicken if you pitch him against Pope Francis, who is 81, and the queen of England, who is an impressive 92. Other mature people in the public eye who are working away include US President Donald Trump (72) and broadcasters Pat Kenny (70) and Marian Finucane (68).

The matter is compounded by two other factors in the equation of the so-termed ‘ages and stages’ of life.

It would appear that many people now in their 60s are wont to describe themselves as being ‘middle-aged’. Tee-hee.

At the other end of the spectrum, a group of researchers with the Royal Children’s Hospital in Australia have now set the cat among the pigeons with a radical suggestion. They are proposing that adolescence should be extended to 24 years of age. Ye gods!

On one level, this ridiculous suggestion almost makes sense.

According to the Census, the average age of marriage in Ireland is almost 36 for a man and 34 for a woman. For same-sex couples, it is 40 years of age.

The figure for a first-time buyer of a home here is well north of 35, while 35.5 is the average age for a woman to give birth to a first child. Previous generations had these milestones done and dusted in their early 20s.

However, we must ask is it realistic to have somebody working in a heavy lifting job, such as carpentry, at 68.

By comparison, it might be feasible for someone in a desk job to work until 70 or beyond.

I believe people should be allowed to have a say in when they hang up their boots in the workplace. Why should an arbitrary age be dictated by politicians who can access their own generous pensions at a very early age?

I would love to see a nationwide Talent Bank of Elders established. Call them what you will – seniors, retirees, pensioners or older people. They could – should they so wish of course – act as mentors to all sorts of individuals and groups.

Some might even have some sage advice for government where relative youth, rather than wisdom, appears to be held out as a desirable attribute for those in power.

Many older people came into their own when taking part in the Citizens’ Assembly prior to the abortion referendum.

I see a lot of pretty miserable-looking retirees killing time in coffee shops, with nothing to do and all day to do it. Many are bright people with vast experience under their belt.

The number of people in the 65-plus category in Ireland increased by 102,174 between 2011 and 2016, according to the CSO. This is more than twice the increase in the number of people in the 15-64 years category.

However, anyone who has survived in excess of 65 winters has, by definition, something to contribute to society and I believe that they should be encouraged and remunerated to do so.