Irish people should receive the state pension at the age of 70 in order to protect the economy, it has been said.

According newstalk.com, the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) has suggested that Irish citizens should work until they’re 70 to qualify for the state pension.

The current qualifying age of 66, is one of the highest in the European Union and is set to rise further. Planned increases will see the state pension age rise to 67 in 2021 and 68 by 2028.

In order to protect the Irish economy, however, the government’s think-tank is suggesting that this should be extended to 70.

As quoted by Newstalk, Age Action Ireland head of advocacy and communications Justin Moran disputed this proposal, stating that it will affect people’s health. He explained that people would be unable to work in physically demanding jobs to this age.

Furhermore, Fianna Fáil’s education spokesperson Thomas Byrne noted that many people already work past the retirement age. "There are a lot of people - including my own father - still working in their 70s, some of them by necessity."

Last year, a cross department working group told Minister Paschal Donohoe that retiring at 65 was becoming impractical, Newstalk noted.

Last month, it was reported that Ireland’s social protection minister Regina Doherty is to call for a €5 weekly state pension increase in budget negotiations with finance minister Paschal Donohoe.

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