Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Effectively, we are transferring the envelope from one side to the other. With a strength of 9,500 at year end we are going into 2013 with an additional cohort of pensioners but many of the retirements which occurred early in the year might have otherwise gone throughout the year. I think I am right in saying that the normal retirement rate from the Defence Forces was between 350 and 400 per annum. By the end of February, in excess of 500 left in a two-month period. Things should level out as we go into 2013. There is always a degree of the imponderable in this area. People may retire for reasons entirely external to the Defence Forces. I do not think there will be major incentives for people to retire early during 2013. The scheme offered an incentive to retire early but we were in a position that was not shared by any other Department in that we are able to recruit again. That was important in the context of the age profile of members of the Defence Forces.