Public Sector Pensions
Dail Éireann — 2025-12-11
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Eoghan Kenny (LAB), Cork North-Central

Mr. Karl Dalton, the Prison Officers Association general secretary, said, “If the last government believes that extending the retirement age alone addressed the concerns of Prison Officers, Gardai [sic], Firefighters and members of the Defence Forces, this survey [which was carried out] shows just how little they understand these services and the people who work in them.” I know the Minister does not want this to be his legacy within the Department of expenditure, but he and the rest of the Government have a decision to make. We have a retention and recruitment crisis. These are the men and women on the ground. If there is any storm across the country, or any crisis, we are all safe at home, but these people are on the front line. They are out there representing this country. That is the bottom line here. We do not want these people in a position where they feel, ultimately, that they are not wanted or respected.
The Minister referred to the reform of the pension scheme. That has completely failed. People are leaving these services, including An Garda Síochána, fire services, the Prison Service and the Defence Forces. It does not take anyone to see it. If you look at it from the outside in, they are leaving.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2025-12-11/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-27T06:54:48+00:00
Sitting date: 2025-12-11