Munster calls out FF plans for pension age

IMELDA Munster, Sinn Féin TD for Louth and East Meath has described reports that Fianna Fáil may renege on commitments to defer the increase in the age of eligibility for a State pension next year as ‘despicable, but typical of Fianna Fáil’.

Deputy Munster said: ‘Fine Gael and Labour increased the pension age to 66 in 2014 and have never committed to reversing that change. Under their plan the State pension age will increase to 67 next year.

It’s now clear that Fianna Fáil will not reverse the increase in pension age either. Sinn Féin is the only party that will guarantee a State pension at 65.

‘ This week we are hearing that Fianna Fáil may renege on commitments to defer the increase in the age of eligibility for a State pension next year if they form a government. It also appears now that Fianna Fáil will not reverse the increase in the pension age either.

‘Sinn Féin is the only party that will guarantee a state pension for at 65, and we are clear and unequivocal on this issue.

‘It was Sinn Féin who put this issue on the agenda during the general election campaign, which pushed Mícheál Martin to make a commitment in line with Sinn Féin’s promise to reduce the pension age to 65.

I am calling on Fianna Fáil to come out publicly and state where they stand on the pension age. This was a massive issue during the election in February and people have a right to know if this was just another pre-election con job by Fianna Fáil.