Congress has criticised the raising of the age at which people are entitled to receive the state pension - which will see it rise to the highest in the EU - as beingunjust and introduced without public consultation or proper regard for theimpact on the labour market. In a submission to the Oireachtas Committee on Education & Social Protection, Congress offiical Fergus Whelan said:
'there was no political debate; no public consultation and no cost benefit analysis of the measure. There was no consideration given to the significant labour market issues involved. Neither was there thought given to issues of fair play, or equity, or minimising hardship to those worst affected."
