Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy was asking whether there was a pause. There is no pause. This is the reality of where we are. In other words, the historic position has been that there was mandatory retirement, people retired early. My own view is that demographically, the world has changed. I have to have due respect for my own negotiating processes with my colleagues in government. The point I am trying to make is that the world has changed; we are fitter and living longer. That should now be reflected in the mandatory retirement age. There was not a pause on anything. In fact, it was an extension. To be fair, the outgoing Minister secured it for sergeants, which is progress, but that is only until 2024. Our view is we need to extend that to include corporals as well