Vol. 518 No. 5
24 Ms O'Sullivan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the proposals she has to facilitate the return to the workforce of those over 55 in view of the second report of the expert group on future skills needs and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11963/00]
The expert group on future skill needs recognised that increasing tightness in the labour market is already inducing many large Irish employers to deliberately seek to recruit older workers. It recommended that employers should actively seek to recruit people in the over 55 group and that people in this age group should be encouraged to seek employment. I support this recommendation. I would also encourage employers to take a proactive approach to the provision of lifelong learning opportunities for older members of their workforce to ensure their continued employability and productivity.
The introduction of the Employment Equality Act, which prohibits discrimination in recruitment and employment on a range of grounds including age, will make a significant contribution to ensuring that older people have equality of access to available job opportunities.
