Eoghan Harris (Independent)

I support Senator Fitzgerald's call for the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform to look at the issue of the retirement age for gardaí. I call for a general debate on age in Irish society, not just simply in terms of restrictive employment practices, etc. but in terms of its wider parameters.

Last night in Cork I attended the three-hour testimonial to Dan Donovan, one of the stalwarts of Cork theatre in Irish and English. I was struck by the fact that during a three-hour show everyone on stage was over 75. They each had to work up six or seven plays and memorise them all, and none of them fluffed his or her lines or showed any signs of physical wear and tear. All their brains were working well. It was striking that the audience was full of young people who appreciated the show because it crossed the generations. That used to happen in every Irish village long ago. Michael Collins strikingly sought out older men and women to speak to and indeed — it is not a late conversion on my part — all the people I admired in RTE were then in their seventies when I arrived there.

It seems ridiculous that a male or female garda who has been accumulating intelligence, wisdom, balance, judgement and gravitas over 40 years should then be dispensed with, and all that information, intelligence and simple cop-on going down the drain. It does not make any sense. Neither does it make sense in any other category of employment. I strongly support Senator Fitzgerald in that specific call and ask the Leader for a general debate, if possible.