Marc MacSharry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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855. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence his plans to proceed to force the retirement of all privates and corporals serving in the Defence Forces who joined post-1994, once they reach 21 years service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10448/17]

Marc MacSharry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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856. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence his views on whether the potential forced retirement of relatively young post-1994 recruited privates and corporals who have served 21 years, while sergeants and senior officers are permitted to continue, is discrimination; if a cost-benefit assessment has been done on the loss of expertise from those members who may be potentially forced to retire; if he will engage in meaningful negotiations with PDFORRA with a view to abandoning the planned discriminatory practice of forced retirements of young persons with young families to support, following just 21 years of service to the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10449/17]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 855 and 856 together.

As the Deputy will be aware military life places unique demands on individuals and it is necessary that its members be physically and mentally prepared to meet the challenges of all military operations and to undertake their duties on deployment overseas. To this end, it is vital the age and health profile of personnel be such as to ensure that operational capability and effectiveness are not compromised in any way. A claim was received from Permanent Defence Force Other Ranks Representative Association (PDFORRA), for a further review of the terms of service applying to personnel enlisting in the Permanent Defence Force after 1 January 1994, as the first effects of this agreement, whereby Privates and Corporals may not serve beyond 21 years, would be felt by the Permanent Defence Force members in those ranks in 2015.

As it was not possible to reach full agreement in this matter, an adjudication hearing took place on 30 January 2015. The findings of the Adjudicator's report were noted and the report was laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas on 4 March 2015. The contents of the report have been accepted by PDFORRA and the Department.

My officials are examining the necessary measures to implement the Adjudicators findings.