Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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That is a series of questions to which I have answers which I will gladly give to the Deputy. However, I will consult the statistics because I do not wish to do it from memory in case I give the wrong statistics.

A total of 21 years is normally the length of service required to be on full pension. The retirement age is normally 50 years for those who joined post-2004.

We have a breakdown of the figures for PDF retirements and discharges. Of those who retired as of 30 September 2012, 59 were officers, while 612 were enlisted personnel. That amounts to a total of 671 retirements. Of the number of 671, 559 retired on pension. I am unsure whether I have information on those who retired early as opposed to those who had completed the full 21 year period, but I will be glad to ensure the Deputy is communicated with in that regard.

We have a complex and detailed breakdown which covers the 619. If I can give an example of what it says - we are happy to put this into a communication to the committee - in the context of officers, we list 48 voluntary retirements. Two retired members were deceased. There were ten retirements on age grounds in the context of officers. Where retirements were voluntary they would not have completed service to the full age at which retirement is compulsory. There are various reasons for enlisted personnel. The largest number involved 453 enlisted personnel who retired on the basis that they were on pensions after 21 years of service. The next largest number involved 73 discharges by purchase. That effectively involves personnel who left without completing the full 21-year period but who are ultimately entitled to pension payments.