Sinn Féin’s spokesperson for Social Protection, John Brady, welcomed comments made by Minister Varadkar yesterday on the need for real and urgent reform owing to unsustainability of the State pension.
 
Deputy Brady highlighted that certain issues, such as the inability for many who retire at age 65 to access their pension, could be addressed immediately.
 
Deputy Brady commented, "This increase in retirement age was brought in quite subtly and it meant that many people were only aware of it on approaching retirement. This of course, was the workings of Fine Gael and the Labour Party. People at the age of 65 should not be forced on to social welfare and they should not have to wait an extra year to access a pension they have been paying into for many years. Under Fine Gael’s plans the pension age will increase to 67 years in 2021 and to 68 years in 2028 and further increases after that have not been ruled out." 

He added, "The pension system needs a major overhaul however; reforming it should not involve forcing 65 year olds on to social welfare. This does nothing for pension reform."

Source: www.businessworld.ie