Are you going to retire at 66

The state giving gold plated pensions to Gardai, teachers etc - often their pensions are more than what people in the private sector get for actually working - means the state has far less money for housing, the ordinary old age pension etc.

People get paid extra for working unsocial hours etc, and plenty of people in the private sector have to work weekends too. But they do not have job security, a six figure tax free lump sum on retirement or a pension of over 40,000.

Many jobs have undesirable aspects the odd time. Most public servants do not chase criminals or go in to burning buildings : is it your opinion that only jobs that are dangerous should get golden pensions? If so Gardai and firemen should not get golden pensions as statistically they are not dangerous compared to logging workers, roofers, commercial fishermen etc.

The vast majority in the private sector do not get share options or bonuses. Everyone in every job can change career at some stage in their lives if they so wish or emigrate if they cannot get a job in Ireland.

50% of final salary annually is over 40k.,

plus tax free lump sum of 18 months salary.

It was not me who valued the pension pot, it was the Irish Times, link given earlier. 8 years ago it was valued at euro 1,799,454. It would be worth more now.

Point is, retirement can be great, but a big pension to enjoy it with makes it even better.

As is well known, and as confirmed in the paper and online, "If you started in the public service before April 1, 2013, your pension is generally based on your salary at retirement ("final salary") and your total years of service. "

So if you served 30 years in the Gardai (40 years in rest of p.s.) the 50% is based on finishing / final salary.

For many years it was joked certain popular people got promotions just before retirement just to give them a better pension. Which it did.

Of course it changed for people starting in the p.s. after April 2013 as it was totally unsustainable. But contracts with pre April 2013 people cannot be changed.

Working conditions in the private sector are OK (although many on close to the minimum wage may disagree with that).

We are talking about pensions, which come out of all taxes collected.

Do you think private sector employees should get the same, or even half, the pensions of Gardai and similar public servants? The Irish Times said the pension pot of the average retiring Gardai is worth close to 2 million euro. Link given.

Get real, this is not Russia. The vast majority of private sector self employed and employees up and down the country cannot afford to have a pension pot worth almost 2 million. Most businesses in the country would go bankrupt very quickly if they had to pay employees a six figure sum on retirement, plus golden pensions. Maybe they could, but you'd be paying ten euro for a bar of chocolate, 50 euro for a pint, 100 to get your puncture repaired, 3000 euro a week to get your child looked after in a creche etc.