asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the concern expressed by the Employment Equality Agency regarding the low upper age limit for public service and local authority appointments; if, in view of the fact that this may result in indirect discrimination against older married women who may wish to return to the workforce, he will review this practice; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

As the Deputy will know, I have direct responsibility for recruitment to the Civil Service only. Open recruitment to the main Civil Service grades has, of course, been suspended since March 1987. The concern of the Employment Equality Agency about upper age limits has been noted and will be considered in the context of the ongoing review of civil service recruitment policy.