Anne Ferris (Wicklow, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for coming today and for his opening statement. I acknowledge the work that the members of our Defence Forces do on behalf of the citizens of this country, particularly overseas. The Minister has answered the question I was going to ask. He said that a significant number of people have left or are leaving the Defence Forces. Is there a mandatory retirement age? How are the pensions calculated, for example, if somebody joined the Defence Forces at the age of 18 and then left ten or 15 years later? The Minister mentioned that when somebody leaves the Defence Forces, they get their pension straight away and it does not matter what age they are, which I think is very unusual. Will the Minister confirm whether the pension is paid as soon as they leave and that they do not have to wait until they are 60 or 65, as most people have to? It is certainly an incentive for people to join the Defence Forces if they know they will get a pension as soon as they leave. Is there a mandatory retirement age?