Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)

It might be useful to set out briefly the general position with regard to service abroad by members of the Garda Síochána. Where a member of the Garda is stationed overseas in his or her capacity as such a member, for example with Interpol, he or she receives an allowance for such duty and accrues service and pension entitlements as normal. Where a member opts to leave the Garda to serve overseas with another agency, such as the UN, he or she ceases to be a member and must rejoin the force on the termination of that service. In such cases the member does not accrue service and pension entitlements. These distinctions are well understood within the force and any question of a change in the position would, in the first place, arise for discussion between me and the various representative bodies. Therefore, it would not be a good idea for me to start negotiating here on the floor of the House through legislation.