All depends whether AIB is offering early retirement in the redundancy package, if they are then the details should be available to them. If they are not then they will have to wait until normal retirement age to access their pension.
A quick google says AIB are offering early retirement from age 50 so if your friends fits that profile and this is accurate then they can apply, but this info should be available to them already? Pension if taken early like that is normally reduced, don't know what AIB's offer is though.