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THERE HAVE BEEN complaints and comments after presidential candidate Peter Casey tweeted a video of himself playing golf – and hitting the golf ball into the sea.
In a tweet that was meant to be a tongue-in-cheek way of saying he wouldn’t use a driver should he be elected to the Áras, 60-year-old Casey said:
This is the only ‘driver’ I’ll be bringing to the Áras when I get elected. #Aras18 #PeterForPresident
The video showed the former Dragons’ Den star driving a golf ball into water.
The tweet has led to much commentary online, with some people asking whether he should be hitting the golf ball into water at all. Others wanted to know if it is classed as littering or if the golf ball is biodegradable.
One person who was not impressed was Labour Cork East TD Sean Sherlock:
CNN reported in 2009 that researchers found golf balls take “between 100 to 1,000 years” to decompose naturally.
TheJournal.ie asked Casey’s spokesperson if he would respond to the complaints. However, they said he is not available for comment.
Casey is on the ballot for the upcoming Presidential election on 26 October alongside the incumbent Michael D Higgins, Sinn Féin’s selected candidate Liadh Ní Riada, Senator Joan Freeman and Casey’s former television colleagues Seán Gallagher and Gavin Duffy.
The businessman, who recently stepped down as CEO of Claddagh Resources, is “proposing a more purposeful Presidency” according to his statement.
He has said he believes the role of President can bring about much-needed social and economic change, at a practical level, rather than being purely symbolic.
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I’d retire this minute if I could afford it.
@Niallers: How long to go to 68 Niall?
@Paul: probably long enough that when he gets there, he’ll be told it’s now 75.
@Paul: about 25 years …
@Niallers: Not feeling the job?
@thesaltyurchin: pays the bills.
@Niallers: They never get cheaper, thats for sure!
Whats the alternative? Work until you get carried out in a box?
@Bobbybrownshoes: If you’re very good you will be allowed to go home at lunchtime on the day of your funeral.
@Bobbybrownshoes: A slide into part time. Could start at 60 with a 4 day week, then gradually reduce the hours to 20 hours per week by 70, with the option to keep going if you feel like it.
It really depends on what people are doing, but it’s mental or physical energy that wanes in most cases, not skill or knowledge. If someone did 4 x 5 hour days, you’d have access to all of that experience and knowledge, and the employee would be able to step back in life but keep their mind engaged and avoid the mental shock of retirement.
I worked in IT consulting for a while with colleagues who were well into their 70s – they are excellent at managing the client teams, the execs and their expectations, and have tons of knowledge and experience to contribute. These were folks with experience of 40 years of banking IT transformations, and a deep knowledge of managing processes and data at that scale. I picked up a hell of a lot of good practices from them.
The recipe for their continued success was scaling back, one preferred short contracts and training engagements (2-4 weeks with breaks in between) and the other just ensured she only worked on interesting stuff to keep her fresh, probably working 8 months of the year.
People who work for themselves manage their own transitions, but employers need to start thinking outside the box and creating stepping stone programs for retirement. It would help with loyalty/retention too because people would stick around knowing their retirement would be well managed.
@Bobbybrownshoes: Should be a specified age beyond which a person can retire with full benefits if they wish. Should’nt be compulsory though.
@Rónán O’Suilleabháin: wow…theres some good ideas there…
@Rónán O’Suilleabháin: I agree that is exactly what I doing
@Bobbybrownshoes: I, personally, enjoy working and won’t stop at an age picked by faceless people.
@Rónán O’Suilleabháin: that’s great if you have that kind of job. As a nurse I can’t see me holding out till I’m 60 let alone 70!
Maybe ” working as long they want to” should be an option.
@Gary Dorrian: so ppl can clog up jobs.. because they are bored!
@KEV: most jobs should have a performance review structure so that you need to leave if you don’t perform to an objective standard.
For those few who want to work sure go ahead but I’d rather see a push to lower the age, some people live to work while other work to live.
@ED: couldn’t agree more but I’d love to see a situation where you can receive your state pension at 65 when you leave your job , but be allowed to work 20hrs a week max elsewhere tax free for as long as you like after that.
@David Carino: I could be wrong but you don’t get your state pension until 66 (if you retire at 65).
@thesaltyurchin: you’re right a woman I worked with retired at 65 and had get job seekers for a year and they wanted to know was she looking for work, another was allowed stay until she was 66
@thesaltyurchin: sorry I meant to say 66
There should be a mandatory retirement age for T.Ds., and they should only be entitled to a state pension.
@Claire Cahill: what about term limits ? I’d be up for that
@Claire Cahill: Government should be national service. Everyone should have to do 3 years.
@thesaltyurchin: I’d be up for that!
@: that would be too sensible.
The call for extending or abolishing a retirement age is closely aligned with the trend for businesses to abolish in house pension provisions and the trend for Government to extend OAP qualification age.
All in the name of profits in one and debts in the other.
Neo-(American)-Liberal written all over it.
@Gerry Ryan deG: I literally haven’t heard of one business pulling pension arrangements. Sure, some defined benefit schemes are closed to new entrants, but there’s always an employer matched defined contribution scheme added. Some employees might be jealous of the previous scheme but that’s life.
Defined Benefit is simply stupid and unsustainable, with most funds being perilously underfunded and set up based on miscalculated risk and life expectancy, 30+ years ago. Plus these funds encourage employees to stay put in companies for long periods, which is dangerous for their skills and can leave them high and dry in their middle age if the company goes under.
@Gerry Ryan deG: You had me until the last line.
@Rónán O’Suilleabháin: Both my jobs so far in Ireland had pension arrangements for the older staff since they started and none for staff hired since about 2012.
@SC: ‘New entrant’
@Gerry Ryan deG: Keep smoking the communist wacky backy.
You are aware that that Government is introducing mandatory in-house pension provisions for all private employees who earn over a certain amount?
Furthermore, the raising of the state pension age is a necessary reaction to the fact that we are all living longer.
@Donal McCarthy: If we live longer shouldn’t that mean that we have more time free from work (if we choose to) in our old age, so life gets better, instead of moving the goalposts. That way we could reinstate the old saying of ‘in my day… it was so much harder’ these days we are headed in the opposite direction, and we don’t have to (well at least I don’t! hopefully). We should be pushing for 4 day working week also, imagine saying “In my day we had to work 5 days a week!” to bored unappreciative kids? that’s a place I’d like to live.
No people should be forced to work until they are over 80 and whipped if necessary. Politicians however, due to them working so hard so be able to retire after 4 years with a gold plated pension.
I think people should be entitled to work as long as they’re happy, but the should still be entitled to their pension at 65.
Building Workers usually work until the Employers place them in the Knackers Yard
For public sector roles there should be a set retirement age
@Murr Paul: That reflects the big divide that’s opening in our society, where a PS worker holds on to security of employment, retirement rights, pensions etc., while those not so lucky get thrown to the wolves of low pay, insecurity and no pension.
That’s very dangerous for any society as the lower tier of citizens won’t put up with it for long.
@Murr Paul: there is
@Murr Paul: there is, it’s 65 or if you are a new entrant you must retire at 70.
@Gerry Ryan deG: Absolutely, Public Sector should be the standard for a better society. it comes down to weather we want to make our futures better or worse, ultimately we seem react to last weeks news and look to solve our problems with witty quick fixes rather than actually planning a course for say 50/60 years, creating a fantastic arena for all of us to be pitted against each other, a tidy distraction while a selection of old dudes profit from our uncertainty.
I was forced into early retirement due to a heart scare in jan 2015.(thank God my first and only since then).and I’ll only be sixty in Nov this year.taking it easy theses days but if I do too much I fined myself getting tired very easily.i do suffer from arthritis in my left knee especially in cold weather where it keeps me indoors most of the winter months hopping around the house
@Liam Ward: Sorry for your troubles. Keep the chin up.
@Liam Ward: Liam I have it in both knees and I’m a lot younger, but what I do suggest you do is go and do an Arthritis course through Arthritis Ireland. Best thing I ever done , it will teach you how to manage it and you’ll more then what the Doctors or consult
@Liam Ward: Liam I have it in both knees and I’m a lot younger, but what I do suggest you do is go and do an Arthritis course through Arthritis Ireland. Best thing I ever done , it will teach you how to manage it and you’ll more then what the Doctors or Consultants tell you .
Of course if no one retired there’d be be no jobs for people once the leave school/college so all the young people leave cause there’s no work unless the whole island turns into a giant sprawling business metropolis
I happen to like what I do. Its not physical, which means I should be able to keep going as long as have any mental disease in waiting. I plan to keep going but in a different capacity either as a lone ranger or with my own consultancy. Point is – it should be my choice. If I want to keep going It should be my decision.
I want someone to show me this in 30 years for a good laugh when I dont want to work another day.
Yes if only to make way for younger people coming on to the jobs market
It should certainly be getting younger (standards should improve/life in Ireland should get better not worse), so 60 with the option of continued employment. People (regular) who have that much experience should be moved to advisory and strategic planning boards/groups or consulting services to use their experience and knowledge to help shape a better future for those coming through. Sort of like how wealthy people do when they retire at 50/60, but for the middle classes.
I got a new job when I retired. Its called Retirement. Happy Days.
I think it should vary depending on the job. Obviously a physical job is going to be more difficult when you’re older. Giving people a choice would also be good, the mandatory retirement rule in some companies is very unfair I think. I know of a few people who had to retire on the day of their 65th birthday and were devastated to have to leave their jobs, for many it’s like being thrown on the scrapheap and losing their social outlet. They can’t even get the pension until a year later at 66.
I’m 43 so it’s a while away for me yet but to be honest I can’t imagine what I’d do all day if I was to retire right now. Work is what gives me routine and structure and, as I live alone, ensures I meet actual human people each day. I could end up a mad old cat lady without it!
What are the unions doing about it.
@Michael Mulcahy: They’re looking after the public sector obviously.
State pension should be available from 65. If people want to keep working they should be allowed to. I can imagine a lot of childless or divorced people wouldn’t have much to do except work so retirement could be long and lonely without work.
Direct employment should be 65. If you can continue in the same job, you are not working. You are just filling space.
I also think there should be a minimum amount of time you should have to Work, far too many people walking around that never worked a day in their life. Looked after from cradle to the grave.
Why is there a picture of Roy Walker in this article?
If you owe the banks you will have to work until they are paid regardless of age so you should be allowed to work until then
Completely depends on the job
Well it really depends on your job. I wouldn’t like to hear my brain surgery is being carried out by an 80 yr old showing signs of Parkinson’s….
No, people should be able to work as long as they are able to … BUT all should be required to make provision for your own private pensions at 60 yrs. You can retire then.
The State cannot afford (taxpayer – €35,000 on Max Tax Rate!) to pay welfare pensions (PRSI and non contributory) before 68 and probably 78 by the time you get there, SO put your future in good hands – YOUR OWN and provide for your own private pension AND retire when you like.
The State should only provide Welfare pensions where private pensions fail.
@Neuville-Kepler62F: Defo keep us all lining up for jobs in Pharma, Insurance, etc. (while paying way over the odds for them, oh the irony! We should really be making weapons too). Also a massive amount of private pensions did just fail, those involved are left with nothing, state or otherwise.
People can work as long they like as it is. There is no law against it. People are entitled to a pension at 66. Silly poll really
Here is a thought. How about insted of a mandatory retirement age of 65/68 How about having a retirement age where you can claim your old age pension and the other benefits if you wish to retire. But if you don’t, you don’t have to have to retire. Or have a semi retirement situation. Just because somebody is over 65 does not mean they have nothing left to contribute to society the truth of the matter is over 65s 70s and some well into there 80s and 90s have a lot left to contribute.
They will not be happy until they have worked you into the grave , no fear they will work themselves into the grave as they sleep on the gravy train .
Polls like this really frighten me, it like the gov and big business are putting the feelers out, beware
How about deal with those that retired at 18 at the moment
I think if people are happy to continue working leave them be. Having said that I think 70 would absolutely be my cut off point, assuming I get there ;)
State Support to all should be a condition of existence (not subsidence) from the cradle to the Grave !
Sex Workers Union of Ireland needs to work harder to reduce the pensionable age. There seems to be little demand after 60.
There is no his to answer listed.
The question asked is incorrect.
The right question would be:
Should there be a MANDATORY retirement age after which one is not allowed to work.
The only correct answer to that is no.
There should however be a “retirement age” at which a person can start receiving a public pension, and private pensions can be collected without tax penalities.
So there both shouldn’t and shouldn’t be a “retirement age”
How a question is asked, is often a VERY influential in how that question is answered.
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