‘Troika had pension age increased’

While it was Fine Gael and Labour in government who introduced the legislation to increase the age at which people could access the State pension, the reality is that the proposal was initially agreed by the Fianna Fáil- Green government as part of the bank bailout deal with the Troika, Sligo-Leitrim Independent candidate, Cllr Declan

Bree, said today

“Last week’s statement from Fianna Fail’s finance spokesperson, promising that the party would “postpone” the rise in the pension age to 67, is clearly a cosmetic exercise to deflect criticism.” he said

“Fine Gael, Labour, Fianna Fail and the Greens are equally responsible for the legislation which has forced thousands of 65 year olds to sign on for Jobseeker’s Benefit so as to get some form of welfare payment before their entitlement to the State pension commences.

“It is unfair and totally unacceptable that people forced to retire before 66 have to claim unemployment payments through Jobseekers Benefit, even though they have worked and paid taxes all their lives.

“The proposal to further increase the retirement age to 67 from January 1st next year can only be described as outrageous.

“Almost 40 per cent of workers in the private sector will be depending on the state pension alone to survive. Those retiring now are expected to apply for unemployment welfare payments. Many of them have worked all their lives without needing to rely on welfare and they find it unacceptable to be compelled to seek unemployment payments on retirement.” he said.

Cllr Bree, who is Chairperson of the Tom Stokes branch of the Unite trade union, said he fully supports the campaign by the trade union movement to see entitlement to the State pension restored to age 65.