‘Working past 65 better for economy than immigration’

FORMER Taoiseach Garret FitzGerald suggested yesterday it would be “much better” for the Irish economy if people worked until later in life rather than having immigrant workers, who need to be housed, coming in.

During a speech at the Equality Authority, the ex-Fine Gael leader spoke in the context of the large numbers of immigrant workers arriving here — all of whom need housing.

Launching Say No to Ageism Week, he said: “Given the shortage of Irish workers which, in recent years, has made necessary a very large number of immigrant workers to come into the country, all of them have to be housed here.