Vol. 417 No. 1
35 Mr. Flanagan asked the Minister for Labour if he has satisfied himself with job advertisements which discriminate on age grounds; if he will outline his views on this type of discrimination; whether he intends to introduce legislation to eliminate age as a criteria for any employment; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I have no plans to introduce legislation to provide for the prohibition of age limits in recruitment advertising as I do not believe that the introduction of additional regulations would be an appropriate means of countering negative perceptions among some employers about the capabilities of older workers.
Where a legislative approach has been adopted, as in the USA, it stemmed from demographic concerns and fears about the practice of prematurely terminating the employment of older people. No similar circumstances apply in Ireland, where the demographic structure is markedly different to that in the USA in the late sixties.
The commitment in the Programme for Economic and Social Progress to increase upper age limits for recruitment to the public service is being implemented. This will provide a stimulus to both the wider public and private sectors. The upper age limits for recruitment to most posts have been increased to 50 years for the Civil Service, health boards and local authorities.
