Vol. 553 No. 2
140 Mr. N. Ahern asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the situation in relation to labour retirement law and local disagreements which suggest part-time workers must retire at 60 whereas full-time workers must retire at 65; and the action which is being taken to standardise laws where obvious discriminatory practices exist. [13390/02]
The question of a compulsory retirement age is not addressed in Irish labour law.
However, the Protection of Employees (Part-Time Work) Act, 2001 provides that a part-time employee cannot be treated in a less favourable manner, in relation to his/her conditions of employment, than a comparable full-time employee, unless the employer can justify such discrimination on objective grounds.
The Act provides that if a part-time employee considers that he or she is being discriminated against because of his or her part-time status, he or she can take a case to the Rights Commissioner Service of the Labour Relations Commission for adjudication in the matter.
