Irish political party, Sinn Fein, has called on the government to deliver a state pension at the age of 65.

Speaking after the announcement of the government’s plan to launch an auto-enrolment pension scheme, Sinn Féin spokesperson on Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Louise O’Reilly TD, said: “It is welcome that the government has published details regarding their auto-enrolment pension scheme proposals, but this must come with a commitment to delivering a pension for workers at 65.

Currently, the state pension age in Ireland is 66 but the last government had planned to increase this to 67 in January this year, and then to 68 in 2028. Sinn Fein has repeatedly spoken out against increases to the pension age, instead calling for a state pension transition age set at 65.

“Already today [29 March] Siptu have called on the Minister for Social Protection, and Fine Gael in particular, not to ignore the evidence, opposition TDs, or the public as regards raising the pension age.

“The operation of the new scheme must facilitate maximum benefit for workers and more needs to be done to ensure those on low incomes can retire with security.The fact is that we are living longer, and this is very welcome, but a secure pension is an essential part of aging well. After a lifetime of work, people deserve the right to retire on their full pension at 65 or continue to work if they choose to do so.”

Furthermore, O’Reilly said that currently, the government is “effectively barring” workers from either of these choices.

“It is long past time this was rectified, and that workers were given the maximum choice. As regards allowing workers, where they chose to do so, to work on after 65, Sinn Féin will be introducing legislation which seeks to do just that,” she said.

“This Thursday I will introduce the Employment Equality (Abolition of Mandatory Retirement Age) Bill 2022; the Bill seeks to stop workers being forced out of their jobs because of their age. The government must stop dancing around the issue and commit to allowing workers to retire at 65 with a full pension or to continue to work if they choose to do so.”

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