Last January the previous Government approved the establishment of an Interdepartmental Working Group to consider policy designed to support fuller working lives. The Group is chaired by an Assistant Secretary from my Department and includes senior representatives from the Departments of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Social Protection, Justice, Health and Education. The terms of reference of the Group are as follows:
1. To review and update the previous work undertaken in 2012 by the cross-Departmental Working and Retirement Group, chaired by the Department of Social Protection;
2. Specifically, to examine the implications arising from prevailing retirement ages for workers in both the public and private sectors;
3. To arrange for engagement with key stakeholders as part of this examination; and
4. To make recommendations to Government on a policy framework aimed at supporting fuller working lives and to address the issues identified.
The Group will be reporting to Government shortly, following which it is intended to publish their report on my Department's website.