Ms Jacqui McCrum:

Deputy Seán Crowe also asked about the 2013 pension scheme. We have four pension schemes currently applicable in the Defence Forces. There are various historic issues, and the most recent one is the 2013 pension scheme. The Deputy is correct that it applies to all uniformed services such as An Garda and firefighters. It also applies to all public servants and civil servants. That was a Government decision made at that time during a period of austerity, but also mindful of the increasing challenges that would face the State with an ageing population. That policy matter is not one for us to resolve. There are challenges being made by various representative associations like the GRA. I know PDFORRA and RACO have made representations on that as well, but that policy matter lies with our colleagues in the Department of public expenditure and it is a Government policy. I turn to the supplementary pension. We have extended the age of retirement to 62. There is still a gap there. It has shortened, but it has been amended by that extension in age.

On salary and pay rates, it is important to recognise that military service allowance, which is paid to Defence Forces members for the exigencies of military service, is pensionable. That is a big plus side. In An Garda you may get overtime but that is not pensionable on the mandatory retirement age. The changes in salary over the past years have had a positive effect in closing that gap.

On resolving the issue to which the Deputy referred, this is, as he said, the third time it has happened. One of the decisions by Government with regard to in relation to introducing the commitment scheme was to have a peer review of what other militaries do and how they operate their services.

This will be a civil military review and we are developing the terms of reference for it.