Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I reiterate the steps my Department has already taken to incrementally increase the retirement age for retained firefighters from 55 to 60. I can also reconfirm that the Minister intends to engage with the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform to ensure that the mandatory retirement age for retained firefighters is consistent with that of other uniformed services, particularly noting that Government recently agreed an increase to age 62 in that regard and for legislation to be drafted to provide for this.

I appreciate that Mr. Molloy is stuck in limbo because the legislation has not been not drafted. It is being drafted. Retained firefighters provide an invaluable service that is essential to their own communities and the public and there is no doubt that primarily retained fire services save lives, prevent damage to residential and commercial property, protect critical infrastructure and safeguard the environment. Our firefighters constitute an invaluable front-line service staffed by very dedicated and selfless people serving communities around the clock.

I will ask the Department to come back to the Deputy. I cannot state what the timeline for the legislation is. I am not sure about interim actions or a circular in that regard. As the Deputy can appreciate, it is a decision that has just recently been made by Government. I wish Mr. Molloy all the best. I know he faces uncertainty. As the Deputy mentioned, Mr. Molloy has 22 years of service in the Defence Forces, as well as his service as a retained firefighter. I will ask the Department to revert to the Deputy about the matter.

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