Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 132: To ask the Minister for Defence the position of the Pensions Act that members on overseas missions are given in regard to benefits; if there are different criteria in regard to different missions; if a member of the Defence Force has different guarantees if serving as observer status as to general UN service; if there are such discrepancies, the plans he has to remove them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14190/04]

Michael Smith (Tipperary North, Fianna Fail)
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As I indicated to the House when replying to Question No. 183 on 3 March and Question No. 90 on 11 March 2004, where a member of the Permanent Defence Force, PDF, is killed in the course of duty or dies from a wound received in the course of duty, whether on duty at home or overseas, enhanced spouse's and children's allowances are payable under the Army Pensions Acts. In addition, the standard death gratuity under the Defence Forces pensions schemes and any widow(er)'s entitlements under the Social Welfare Acts are payable.

As I also indicated, additional lump sum death benefits would be payable under my Department's special extra-statutory compensation scheme where a member of the PDF was killed in the course of duty while serving overseas with an international United Nations force. The question of extending this scheme to personnel serving with the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe, OSCE, and other such overseas missions is now being considered by my Department under the conciliation and arbitration scheme for the PDF. The Deputy will appreciate that it would not therefore be appropriate for me to comment further in the matter at this stage.