John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I want to understand this. There are not many jobs like that are there? For example, if you are given a seven-year term as a Secretary General and if you reach the end of that seven years before retirement, that is generally it in the private sector. You can then get a job with the experience of your previous seven years or get an extension of seven years. Is it not better to promote the extension? Deputy Durkan made the point - and I agree with him - that we are losing good people from many positions because there is some notional retirement age. These people could still do the job, and some of them want to do it. Is it not time to review that?