Age cannot be a reason to dump someone

This week’s Mediahuis Irish regional newspapers’ column.

Michael Commane

Eir CEO, Oliver Loomes was interviewed on the Business programme on RTÉ Radio 1 last Saturday week. Oliver has been with the company since 2022 and before that had senior jobs with a number of companies including Mars and Diagio Ireland, where he was MD. 

Naturally he spoke about his experiences at the different jobs and his early life. The family moved back to Ireland when he was a child. His father, who was a dentist and had hopes his son would follow in his footsteps, something that never happened. 

He spoke how he had been diagnosed with cancer and how it had changed his outlook on life. He also mentioned the support, love and help he received from so many people, family, friends, work colleagues. Close to the end of the interview he mentioned that his parents, who are now in their 80s, are currently driving around Europe on a motorbike. 

His father driving and his mother the pillion passenger. Good for them and wonderful to hear. It set me thinking about the arguments that are currently making the news about ageism. 

That same day there was a a report in the media of a woman who was refused the student reduced rate to a Dublin gym because of her age, even though she had a student card. She took the case to the WRC and rightly so won her case and collected €3,000. Good for her.

Vladimir Putin is 71, Joe Biden is 81, Xi Jing Ping is 70, Pope Francis is 87 And Micheal D Higgins was 83 on April 18. Why should one’s age be a deciding factor if someone can do the job? If a person can pass a medical examination, which is  required for a specific job why can’t they be given the job if they pass all the requisite requirements irrespective of age? 

People who think otherwise are slaves to an outmoded way of thinking. We have been shouting for many years from the rooftops how enlightened a society we are. So what’s this business about telling someone at a specific age that they are no longer fit to work. It is a shocking insult, degrading too. And constitutionally unsound.

I lived in Berlin before the Wall came tumbling down. The day I saw that Wall collapse I said I would never again listen to someone who says ‘it can’t be done’. Ok, there are the laws of gravity, but outside of that I refuse to accept the status quo. My father worked till he was 82, mother until she was 78.

Of course there is need for a retirement age and that’s for many good reasons, including health and financial aspects, but if someone, who is capable of doing the job and wants to stay working after 65/66 why should they be prohibited?

The country is crying out for workers in many professions and skills, including teachers nurses, GPs, bus and truck drivers. Why can’t a person of any age, who is qualified, fit, capable and wants to, be allowed work at their trade? It is preposterous that they can’t. And it’s such silly thinking.

Mr and Mrs Loomes keep driving that motorbike and good luck to both of you. Your son Oliver said you have been a source of inspiration to him all his life. You sure are to all of us today. Well done. By the way, I drive a Honda 680 Deauville.