Leo Varadkar says 'it's the plan' for Fine Gael's proposed pension transition payment to be the same as the State pension.

The Taoiseach has faced more questions on the matter during canvassing today.

The pension issue has become one of the key talking points of the election campaign, with the qualifying age for the State pension set to rise to 67 in 2021.

Sinn Féin wants to the qualifying age back to 65, while Labour wants to leave it at 66.

Speaking in Co Limerick this evening, Leo Varadkar said some people are forced to contractually retire at the age of 65 - acknowledging that it's an issue that has come up on the doors during canvassing.

NEW: Taoiseach says the so-called ‘pension translation’ details are still being finalised. Says it’s ‘the plan’ for it to be the same as the state pension #GE2020 pic.twitter.com/vbghaRxOzJ

— Andrew Lowth (@AndrewLowth1) January 21, 2020

He explained: "They don't want to have to sign on - we hear that, we get that, we accept that's a problem.

"We're working on a proposal to put in place a form of State transition pension, that means that people will in those circumstances be able to get their pension early."

Mr Varadkar added: "I don't make policy on the huff, so what we're doing now is working on the costings of that and the details of that."

He also said it's Fine Gael's hope that details of the proposal would be published in their manifesto before the election.

Main image: Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Fine Gael's Patrick O'Donovan in Adare in Limerick today. Image: Andrew Lowth