Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 36: To ask the Minister for Defence his plans to extend the retirement age of officers and other ranks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12112/06]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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There are no immediate plans to extend the retirement age of officers and other ranks in the Defence Forces. The White Paper on Defence 2000 and the earlier Defence Forces review implementation plan recommended a reduction in retirement ages in an effort to address the age profile and fitness of the Defence Forces. More recently, however, the retirement age for people recruited to the public service has been increased. Improvements in the age profile in the Defence Forces have been achieved through a programme which included early retirement packages, regular recruitment and short-term contracts.

A key element in military life is the need for personnel to maintain a level of fitness for combat readiness. There is constant need to balance this requirement with the need to retain experience and expertise, particularly at managerial level, in the Defence Forces. I will continue to monitor the needs of the Defence Forces in this area and, mindful of ongoing experiences in other areas of the public service, will introduce changes if required.

Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I acknowledge that the age profile of members was a significant issue for the Defence Forces prior to publication of the White Paper and that there were concerns about ensuring that members' fitness levels were commensurate with the duties required of them. The Minister hit the nail on the head at the end of his contribution. There are two aspects to this issue, the officer corps and other ranks. Some movement has been made by the Minister with regard to other ranks, and rightly so. The period of service has been extended to 20 years for those who came into the forces after 1994. That was a good idea as much expertise is amassed in that time.

I ask the Minister to perhaps review the issue for personnel who reach the age limit and who have certain qualifications that would be required for managerial posts. An administrative side, consisting of IT for example, is needed in addition to the operational side of the Defence Forces. Certain skills are needed that can only be required over a period of time. Nevertheless, I am concerned that the age profile is constantly kept in check.

With regard to the officer body, I am aware that commandants retire at 56, which is very young, as the Ceann Comhairle, to whom I listened on television on Sunday night a few weeks ago discussing people's ability to do jobs regardless of age, will appreciate. Such personnel may have much expertise but are caught in no man's land. At 56, a person, while still relatively young, may be too old to take up another job. The Pensions Commission report states that no pension should be given out until age 50, after 30 years' service. Many professions are looking at extending the retirement age because of the increased life expectancy.

I ask the Minister to examine two issues. The first concerns the officer body, where commandants retire at 56. This should be considered in view of the fact that our increased overseas commitment has placed a strain on the officer corps. Many officers have to leave the Defence Forces at 56 years of age, despite having much expertise that could be put to valuable use. The same applies to other ranks. After 20 years' service, their expertise could perhaps be used in the administrative side of the Defence Forces.

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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The statistics for retirement by commandants on age grounds, as opposed to voluntary retirement, show that 26 retired voluntarily in 2000, while only three had reached the age of retirement. In 2001, five retired on age grounds, with 29 retiring voluntarily. That is the trend. Many of the commandants are retiring voluntarily and are not compelled on reaching the stipulated age. In other words, they retire at an age under 56.

Deputy Timmins will be aware that the maximum retirement age for officers ranges from 47 for a lieutenant, which is at one end of the scale, to 63 for a lieutenant-general, at the other end of the scale. I appreciate Deputy Timmins's comments regarding the age profile of the Army. We must keep the age profile below a certain level. That was the main criticism levelled at the general profile of the Army in the 1980s.

With regard to retaining people, I presume the Deputy is referring to people of officer and non-officer rank who have acquired certain qualifications. I will keep the matter under ongoing review.

Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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With regard to the officer corps, what is commonly known in the Defence Forces as a hump period may occur. In the early 1970s, for example, a larger number than usual were taken in, and there were three or four years when officers were caught in that trap. The Minister correctly pointed out that the number of officers who have retired on age grounds has been small, and I appreciate that, but in the next few years that number may increase just for a short period, and perhaps action can be taken for that cohort.

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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We will keep the matter under review.