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.

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