Dunleer retained firefighter, John Molloy, has been given the ‘best birthday present ever’ with news at the weekend that he will not have to retire on his sixtieth birthday on May 24.
Mr Molloy, who is the station officer in Dunleer, had feared he had no choice but to retire when he turned 60 in a couple of weeks’ time.
While the government had committed to increasing the mandatory retirement age for retained firefighters to 62, and to enact legislation before the Dáil’s summer recess, Mr Molloy was worried that it would not happen in time for him.
But on Friday evening, the Department of Public Expenditure announced that ‘the necessary legislative provisions can be enacted before the Dáil summer recess, with temporary measures in place until that time’.
Mr Molloy is one of a number of retained firefighters who received word that they could continue past their sixtieth birthday while the legislation is drafted and passed.
His case has been raised numerous times in Leinster House by Sinn Féin TD Ruairí Ó Murchú, who said he was ‘delighted’ that Mr Molloy would be able to continue in the role for another two years.
The Dundalk TD said: ‘John Molloy had a very simple request: please don’t make me retire while the legislation to increase the mandatory retirement age goes through the Oireachtas.
‘It made no sense for someone of his capabilities, someone who is so instrumental to the running of Dunleer fire station, to be forced to retire when the legislation was within touching distance.
‘I am very glad that the government saw sense and came up with an interim solution for him. It is the best birthday present ever for him’.
