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Ireland's retirement age debated

Commen in France, the age of retirement in Ireland poses. But not for the same reasons. A debate revived in the middle of the campaign for the legislative elections.

The legal age at which Irish people can claim a pension has been 66 years since 2014. However, the retirement age is often defined in the employment contract and many employers place it at 65 years. So some “ seniors ” must contribute in addition to provide temporary work, or receive unemployment benefit, for one year.

This legal age, 66, is expected to change soon: the Fine Gael, the party currently in power, plans to bring it to 67 in 2021 and 68 in 2028. Ireland will be among the countries more demanding in the EU in terms of retirement, alongside Germany, Italy and Greece.

A retirement age that makes the headlines

Politicians admitted that there was an anomaly. Outgoing Prime Minister Leo Varadkar has promised that he will introduce a " phased retirement " allowance. For the “ seniors ”, there is a certain shame in having to point to unemployment before being able to touch their retirement.

His main rival, the center-right party Fianna Fail, has promised to make these contract clauses illegal. A promise that could prove unconstitutional for already existing contracts.

A retirement age little contested by politicians

This reform was designed in 2011, at a time when Ireland is only emerging from the crisis. It is on a financial infusion from the European Central Bank, the IMF and the Financial Stability Mechanism. In exchange for their support, Ireland must reform, hence this change. Added to this is the demographic argument: aging population and longer life expectancy, to justify this reform.

Leo Varadkar defended the method of his predecessors. The proof according to him: the situation in France: " Look what is happening in France, they will go from 62 to 67 years in 5 years because they do it too late !" Prevention is better than cure. "

The head of Fianna Fail, Micheal Martin, leaves the door open to canceling the change, but nothing very concrete. Even the Labor Party does not evoke a return on the measure, it must be said that Labor was part of the government at the time, in 2011. There is only Sinn Féin, who is betting a lot on these elections, and the small left-wing People Before Profit, which proposes the return of the starting age to 65 years. Two parties traditionally in opposition and which therefore have an interest in raising the stakes.

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