Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald has said giving workers the choice to retire from 65 is a mark of a "progressive and civilised society".

Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, Ms McDonald said it would cost €127 million to restore pension rights to 65 year olds.

She said her party would support increasing employers PRSI contributions by four percentage points over a number of budgets to pay for this.

Sinn Féin's parliamentary party meets in Dublin today, ahead of a return of the Dáil tomorrow.

Ms McDonald said "it is essential for workers in manual jobs, factories and caring roles, who have paid their dues by 65" to have the option to retire with a State pension, but added that her party does not support compulsory retirement.

She called for the Government to publish the report of the Commission on Pensions so the pensions issue can be debated.

She also said that Sinn Féin supports the idea of a wealth tax for the very well-off.

Ms McDonald said Ireland's health service must be made an attractive place for people to work and health care workers need to be paid fairly.

She added that Ireland must also be made a place that is livable for people and a country where people can enjoy a decent standard of living.

Sinn Féin's TDs and Senators were due to meet last week, however the event was postponed until today due to Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland Michelle O'Neill contracting Covid-19.

Ms McDonald was scheduled to give a key-note address this morning and housing and health were due to feature prominently in discussions.

Irish Unity and the establishment of a Citizens' Assembly were also in the agenda.

Health spokesperson David Cullinane was to brief TDs on his proposals for an Irish National Health Service including immediate priorities to cut waiting lists and reduce the cost of care.

Housing spokesperson Eoin Ó Broin was to give an update on his legislation to remove the Government's exemption for developers, while Deputy Mairéad Farrell was to outline her plan to extend the cooling off period for a minister serving in government moving to become a lobbyist.

She was also due to talk about her Freedom of Information Bill which allow the Information Commissioner to refer complaints to SIPO for those failing their duties under the Act.

The party has placed a no-confidence motion in Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney over his handling of the appointment of Katherine Zappone as a UN special envoy.

Ms McDonald said Sinn Féin is not prepared to look away and ignore cronyism, adding that there is a huge public appetite for change.

She said she wants Sinn Féin to lead the government after the next election and to demonstrate that things can be done differently.

"I want people to have a government that is concerned with their rights, that's not about insiders and landlords and big developers and and all of that, and international finance. I want a government by the people, of the people and that the people are in the driving seat."

The Fine Gael party has mounted a social media defence of Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney, in advance of tomorrow's Sinn Fein no-confidence motion in the Dáil.

Meanwhile, the Labour Party is holding the second day of their think-in in Athy, Co Kildare, while Fine Gael wraps up its think-in in Trim, Co Meath.