The Labour Court has recommended extending the employment of full-time firefighters at Kilkenny County Council in line with an offer made during conciliation, to give them the opportunity to accrue full pension rights. The recommendation was signed on 16 May 2006 after a dispute with the Services Industrial Professional Technical Union (SIPTU).
The union argued that the firefighters’ contracts did not specify a retirement age and that they could expect to work until 65. The Council said the nationally accepted retirement age was 55, consistent with pension arrangements.
The Court found that established practice at the Council was retirement at 55 and said the claimants had no reasonable or legitimate expectation of remaining in service until 65. It also noted that a national extension arrangement of up to age 58 applied in certain circumstances to retained firefighters, and said the union could pursue a similar arrangement through national channels.