The government managed to avoid expressing any particular policy preferences in the curiously vague green paper it published last Wednesday, but one issue the taoiseach, tanaiste and minister for social and family affairs Martin Cullen couldn't avoid when they unveiled the document to the press was the L-word . . . longevity.

As Brian Cowen noted, in 1926 the average lifespan for a working man was just 57 years.

By 2060, on average, men can expect to live to 87; women, to 91. Combined with later average career start, later childbearing, later mortgages, people are saving less to fund longer retirements.

It was surely this unsustainable demographic situation that had Bertie Ahern calling for the country to "tap into the abilities of our working population in different ways and for longer periods of time".

Right now there are nearly six working people for every pensioner; within a generation, there will be about two workers for every retired person. What's the easiest way of getting a better balance? Move the fulcrum.

We asked people in their 20s how they felt about working an extra five years and retiring at 70.

See 'Do-Nothing Pensions', Page 8 Chris Breathnach "It would depend on the kind of job you do. If you do something stressful, it wouldn't be ideal to work until you're 70 years old. I don't think working longer will help me personally, but saving extra during those years would help because you won't be taking out as much after you retire. If inflation keeps going like it has been, you'll have to put in a few million just to have a decent retirement . . . it's almost not worth it. I don't really expect the government to help in a huge way, maybe just as a fall-back."

Rosemarie Kennedy "I won't work until I'm 70! It's difficult to anticipate how much I'll need to retire with how the economy is going. I have a fair idea how much per year I can save how long I'm going to live, but wit hthe cost of living it's hard to "nd where you could fit in an amount to go into a pension. The tax relief is not enough for people in their 20s . . . it's much more favourable to people who are older. Tax relief of 15% [of salary] doesn't entice young people enough. An SSIA-style pension would be a very good idea. It's a shame the Government let the SSIA lapse without anything to replace it.

They should have had a similar scheme ready to go for pensions, especially for non-SSIA holders."

Alan Jackson "I wouldn't be mad about working past 65. I want to stop working as soon as I can. I'm con"dent I'll have enough money. I have a pension where I pay a certain amount and my employer pays double that.

"The standard state pension is almost adequate, but people have a responsibility to look after themselves. The government should bring in some sort of compulsory pension so people have to put in a minimum for their retirement. I don't favour and SSIA-style pension system, since people will just have to fund it out of their taxes."

Emma Condon "I feel I'll be healthier and will be able to keep working past 65. I don't see it as an issue if we're allowed more free time and "exibility during our working lives . . . say to take time off to travel. I expect I'll be physically and mentally able for it, but it shouldn't be compulsory. When you've done your time, you should have the option of continuing.

"I'm concerned that my pension is 100% invested in equities and as I get older it will move into fixed income investments, but in the last three years it has lost money . . . especially this year.

"I can't believe that some people don't have pensions or provide for the future.

Government, employers and individuals have a combined responsibility for pensions.

We have an aging population, which puts more of an onus on the government. A company that isn't providing a pensions facility, though, is irresponsible."