Fine Gael has promised to introduce a pension transition payment for people who want to retire at 65.  This means that they would not have to seek jobseeker’s allowance while waiting for the state pension.

Pensions seem to have been one of the main issues of the General Election campaign so far - with Sinn Fein promising to lower the age to 65, and Fianna Fail saying they would defer it next year.

Joining Ivan to discuss the issue on this evening's edition of the Hard Shoulder were Paddy Connolly, CEO for Age Action Ireland, Patricia King, the General Secretary for the Irish Congress of Trade Unions and economist Jim Power.