The Government has been defeated in a Dáil vote, meaning it will have to bring forward reforms on pensions.

Fianna Fáil sided with Sinn Féin, the AAA-PBP, the Green Party, Social Democrats and most Independents to vote down a countermotion on pension equality and fairness.

The Labour Party abstained.

The Government’s amendment to a Sinn Féin motion was to end the requirement for 65-year-olds to go on jobseeker’s benefit for a year before receiving their pension.

Following the defeat by 48 votes to 93, with four abstentions, the Government then abstained on Fianna Fáil proposals, which were passed with 51 votes to 37 with 46 abstentions.

These will require legislation to be brought forward to make it illegal for employment contracts to stipulate people must retire at age 65.