Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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527. To ask the Minister for Defence his proposals or if he will consider any arrangements whereby persons who served in the FCA over the years and have very long service may be considered for some pension as a recognition of their service and time provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33029/14]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The Army Reserve (previously known as An Fórsa Cosanta Áitiúil) and the Naval Service Reserve are the component parts of the Reserve Defence Force (RDF). It is essentially a part-time force in which service is given on an entirely voluntary basis. Service in the RDF is therefore fundamentally different in nature from service and employment in the Permanent Defence Force (PDF), in particular as regards the respective terms and conditions of service involved. Thus, the concept of pensionability which applies to service in the PDF would be inappropriate in relation to the RDF. This policy position is of longstanding and there are no proposals to change it.