John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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78. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of women in the Defence Forces by rank; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5218/22]

John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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79. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the current number of women in the Defence Forces who are currently serving overseas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5219/22]

John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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80. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of women members of the Defence Forces who have left in the past year by month and to date in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5220/22]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 78, 79 and 80 together.

The number of women who discharged from the Permanent Defence Force in 2021, by month, up to 31^stDecember 2021 (the latest date for which such information is available) is as follows:

The table below shows the number of women, by rank, in the Permanent Defence Force, as of 31^stDecember 2021. Of these 36 (8 Officers, 28 Other Ranks) were serving overseas.

It is Government policy to increase female participation rates at all levels of the Defence Forces, in order to enhance capability and to better reflect the society from which the Defence Forces are drawn and serve, and a number of initiatives have been, and continue to be, implemented in this regard.

Furthermore, as the Deputy will be aware, an Independent Review Group has been established to examine issues relating to unacceptable behavior in the workplace. Additionally, the Commission on Defence Forces is due to report in the coming weeks and their views will be an important aid to the Independent Review.

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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81. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the terms of reference of the independent review into dignity and equality issues in the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5224/22]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, following Cabinet approval, an Independent Review Group has been established, under the Chair of Ms. Justice Bronagh O’Hanlon, to examine issues relating to sexual misconduct, bullying, harassment and discrimination in the Defence Forces.

The overall aims of the Independent Review are to:

- Advise on whether the current legislative frameworks, policies, procedures and practices for addressing incidents of unacceptable behaviour in the workplace are effective.

- Independently assess whether the pervading culture in the workplace is fully aligned with the principles of dignity, equality, mutual respect, and duty of care for every member of the Defence Forces.

- Provide recommendations and guidance on measures and strategies required to underpin a workplace based on dignity, equality, mutual respect, and duty of care for every member of the Defence Forces.

This Independent Review is seen as a critical and vital next step to ensure that the workplace for serving members of the Defence Forces is safe, where there is zero tolerance of unacceptable behaviour and where we learn from historical experiences.

My Department and I have engaged extensively in recent months on the Terms of Reference, with the Women of Honour Group and with other stakeholders, including both serving and former members of the Defence Forces, the Representative Associations, PDFORRA, RACO and RDFRA and with a second group representing former members. The Terms of Reference, approved by Cabinet last week, were published yesterday on Gov.ie www.gov.ie/en/publication/d978a-dignity-and-equality-in-the-workplace-the-defence-forces-an-independent-review/

Current and former members of the Defence Forces have welcomed the Review and whilst I acknowledge the disappointment expressed by the Women of Honour group who have been seeking a Tribunal of Inquiry, I am strongly aware of the need for immediacy of action to ensure the safety of serving Defence Forces members.

I want to be clear that this does not preclude Government from considering further bodies of work that may be necessary. The Review Group have been specifically asked to advise on whether further work is required to examine issues of an historical nature and to make any recommendations regarding how this might be pursued.

The Review Group will provide me with an interim report after six months. A final report is expected within 9 months. I will bring the Final Review Report to Government, who may consider any further bodies of work that might be necessary, taking into account the findings of the Independent Review Group. Thereafter, I intend to make the Final Review Report public.

I wish to reiterate my commitment and that of the Secretary General and Chief of Staff, to ensure that every member of the Defence Forces, can carry out their duties in a safe and respectful workplace based on dignity, equality and zero-tolerance for any kind of unacceptable behaviour.

Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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82. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he will review correspondence and address the concerns raised by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5274/22]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Under the Defence Forces occupational pension scheme applicable to Non-Commissioned Officers (NCOs) and Privates enlisting in the Defence Forces before April 2004, 21 years is the minimum service required for an immediate retirement pension and gratuity, regardless of age. Under this ‘fast accrual’ pension scheme, maximum retirement benefits accrue after 31 years and the pension is payable for the person’s lifetime.

Where qualifying service is more than 21 years, an ‘additional increment’ is payable at a flat rate (generally €9.21 a week currently) for each year of service in excess of 21 years up to a maximum of 31 years’ service. This gives a maximum additional increment of €92.10 weekly. However, under the ‘pre-April 2004’ pension scheme rules, this additional increment ceases to be payable if and when the pensioner reaches the prescribed age for the State Pension (Contributory), that is, currently at age 66.

These arrangements are in accordance with the long established principle of integrating occupational pensions with Social Insurance benefits of employees who are in full PRSI class. This includes NCOs and Privates who are fully insured for the range of social insurance benefits under the Social Welfare Acts, such as the State Pension (Contributory).

Integration means that a person’s entitlement to social insurance benefits is taken into account when calculating the rate of their occupational pension payable. In an integrated pension scheme, the State Pension or similar contributory Social Welfare benefit is regarded as part of the overall pension package payable to the individual. The integration principle applies right across the public service and, indeed, in many areas of the private sector as well as in other countries.

The person in question (details supplied) qualified for maximum pension and retirement benefits immediately upon his retirement in 2013 at age 52, having completed more than 31 years service. The integration process will only begin when his state pension becomes payable, currently at age 66.

Furthermore, the maximum personal rate of State Pension payable (€253.30 a week currently if under age 80) is considerably more than any reduction that will happen under the Defence Forces pension schemes by virtue of the loss of the additional increment on qualification for the State Pension.

It might be noted that the method of integration for ‘pre-April 2004’ military pensioners is in fact more favourable than in other areas of the public service. In the public service generally, integration begins from the time the occupational pension commences payment, for example from age 60/65 where ‘standard accrual’ pensions apply in pre-2013 public service schemes