Malcolm Byrne (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State. I welcome and strongly support the measures proposed, which the Minister of State will certainly find retained firefighters want to see implemented. What is critical is a timeframe for doing so because it is going to be very difficult to recruit 400 firefighters without a very clear timeframe for introducing all the agreed measures. It is about providing certainty for firefighters and those considering a career in this area. It is especially important for those seeking mortgages or loans to allow them to state they have a particular guaranteed income. The Minister of State will appreciate how difficult it can be to seek approval from a financial institution it is based on a person's guaranteed income. It is critical we have a very clear timeframe for when these measures will be implemented.