Mandatory retirement is simply age discrimination, according to Age Action.

The charity for older people also says that many people of retirement age would much rather continue working.

A Bill to abolish mandatory retirement drew all-party support in the Oireachtas last year but has stalled since the General Election.

Director Justin Moran says there’s a huge social factor that comes into play after leaving employment.

“People that we have spoken to have been saying to us that it’s about financial security, it’s about realising in their early 60s that they’d like to work a bit longer to ensure their retirement is a bit more safe, a bit more comfortable.

“There’s also a hugely social part of it, many of the people we speak to do not want to lose their friends they have in the workplace.”