Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Minister is correct that my colleague, Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl, has raised this issue on a number of occasions, on each of which the Minister stated he did not want to change the policy. Is the process under way meaningful? Is the Minister willing to listen to PDFORRA's side of the argument or is this process merely a charade and the Minister has his mind made up that the policy will not change? The men and women concerned have served their communities and the Defence Forces with distinction. We are effectively telling them that when they reach the age of 38, 39 or 40 years, they are no longer capable of work. Some of them meet the highest health and fitness standards and are well capable of carrying out their work. Members of the defence forces in other countries serve well into their fifties. Having invested heavily in training these personnel, forcing them to retire at 38 and 39 years of age is an inefficient use of resources. I hope the Minister will confirm the process is meaningful and not a charade.

See this speech in context