Colm Keaveney (Galway East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister's commitment to demonstrate flexibility and I am sure he will agree that continuing in stable employment in one's 30s is generally a good thing. Being discharged from the Army in one's late 30s and not having any employment prospects is not good for one's family or community. Significant flexibility was offered to the chaps in the mess, such as the commandants, who received an extra two years. Psychiatric nurses and gardaí were also given significant flexibility to continue in service beyond retirement age.

It may be of assistance to compare our Defence Forces with those of some of our NATO friends. The retirement age in Malta and Finland is 55, in Belgium it is 56, in Cyprus it is 52 and in Australia it is 60. I am delighted the Minister has acknowledged that we have the best fitness programme available and that if people are fit to work they should not be discharged prematurely.

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