I want to raise my concerns about the retirement age for emergency personnel and particularly for the retained fire service. Every year, very valuable members with huge amounts of experience leave the force - the retained fire service. In one station alone, 100 years of experience will be lost over the next number of years. These are individuals who undergo medical examination every year after the age of 50.

My view is that if a person wants to continue to work and if they are eligible and passing their medical examination, they should be allowed to do so. It is particularly in the context of the Workplace Relations Commission proposals in 2023. There was a major issue with recruitment in the retained fire service. I welcome the fact that has changed but there are a huge number who will have to leave. The new recruits need to have experience.

The Taoiseach will respond. The Deputy posed the question and his time is up. The Deputy must now allow the Taoiseach to respond.

The retirement age was 55 and it is now 62. We actually have made very significant progress on extending the age at which somebody retires in the Garda, the Army, the fire services and across the board in emergency services. The original reason was the nature of the work. Obviously, because of the investment in health services over the past two decades and better lifestyles and so on, people are living much longer, people's quality of life is much better and people are fitter at older ages than they would have historically been. That is why the age limits have increased and we will continue to keep all of that under review. However, there will always be an age of retirement in emergency response services. That is clear. Obviously, the authorities concerned specifically with this area will do their research, analysis and assessment.