Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Yes. I fail to see why the cost of pensions is included in an Estimate, whether it is Army pensions or any other pensions. Surely, we should have an overall costing for pensions full stop. This has really nothing to do with the Department of Defence once the person has retired. It seems strange that we include it an overall Estimate for the Department because, if there are reductions or cuts, the pensions cannot be cut. I question the whole concept of including an item called "Pensions" in an Estimate. There should be an overall figure for pensions in, for example, the Department of Finance, rather than the Minister of State having to come in here and talk about Army pensions. There is nothing he can do about it. The people are retired and they are entitled to their pension, so let us get on with it.