Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

-----put in place for a good reason.

They were put in place to ensure a reasonable turnover in the context of the functions members of the Defence Forces have to perform and, bearing age in mind, to ensure members would have the capacity to perform those functions properly. That was an issue that was very carefully addressed. It arose at one of the meetings of this committee, perhaps when considering last year's Estimates. I do not envisage that position changing. If it were to change, we would have an ageing defence force. It would not create the openings for recruitment and would not allow vigorous young people to enter the Defence Forces. We must maintain some age-appropriate balance within the Defence Forces. I am sure we could all have an interesting conversation on whether 19, 20, 21 or 23 years would be most appropriate but the age was fixed some years ago and I do not envisage a change in the shorter term. The current arrangement affords young people an opportunity to join the Defence Forces and bring value to the organisation. I am conscious that all those retiring have given great service to the State. Some have specialist expertise in specific areas. That is important to acknowledge but, as I said to the Deputy, I do not foresee a change.

The Deputy was right about how we are in a position to fund pensions from within our resources, as opposed to drawing on some major additional allocation. In recent years, it has been usual on the defence side to have a recalibration of the type described at the end of the year, for a number of reasons. First, one does not know for certain in any one year how many members will retire. Second, as vacancies arise and people are recruited, numbers move up and down a little. The number has dipped a little but, by the end of the year, it will be back up to 9,400. We will progress that into the new year.

Effectively, the savings have been effected by very careful marshalling of resources. I agree with what the Deputy said in that regard. I am not patting myself on the back in that what I say applies equally to my predecessor and to the manner in which the Defence Forces themselves and the civil side within the Department have managed resources. It is done with great efficiency. Over time, the careful stewardship of defence spending has meant there is no substantial over-expenditure that can be identified in any area. On occasion, we have succeeded in operating at a lesser cost than might have been anticipated when the original Estimates were agreed. It is basically good management. It is a tribute to the work of the officials in my Department and to management within the Defence Forces. These matters are dealt with very carefully. That is why we are in a position to deal with matters in this appropriate way.

I hope I have answered most of the questions raised by the Deputy. Since what I have outlined is the case, there are no operational issues concerning the cross-transfer of funding between the two different Votes.