asked the Minister for Defence if an NCO in the army can spend 30 years as such without any prospect of promotion; and, if so, whether he regards the pension given on retirement as equitable having regard to all the circumstances.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - NCOs Pensions.
80.
Pension must be related to rank. The proposed increase, including the increase in the pension increment payable in respect of qualifying service between 21 and 31 years, will improve the pensions very substantially.
Will the Minister agree with me that it is possible for a sergeant to give 30 years faithful service to the Army and the country and then to retire, a married man, on £7 10s a week?
I, as Minister, feel that I could not give enough to Army personnel but we must be limited by certain factors such as finance.
Is there not a moral basis for this?
There is a moral basis. We go as far as we can. We consider this fair and reasonable.
What I am suggesting to the Minister is that we are not treating those people morally when a sergeant in the Army, after 30 years service, a married man, must retire on £7 10s a week pension. I do not think the House will regard that as being fair and just.
It is a matter of opinion.
Would the Minister not consider that the soldiers who retired before this on 1s per week per year of service over 21 are entitled to some compensation in view of the new rates that have now been fixed?
The Deputy will realise that we are doing a very good job. The shilling has been increased to 4s 10d and that will be further increased as a result of the recent review.
Would the Minister not agree that those who had gone out even months before the rate was reviewed will not consider that a very good job was done because they are still getting a shilling?
No matter how far back one goes there will still be cases on the wrong side of the fence.
Yes, but people are dying off and, therefore, there is only a limited number of people involved and I think this penny pinching should not be going on.
Is it not possible to get promotion to commissioned rank now, through the ranks and, therefore, it is not correct to say that a person could be a sergeant for 30 years without prospects of promotion?
He can be a company sergeant and be promoted to first lieutenant and lose money. There are only 30 of them altogether in the entire Army.
I want to tell Deputy Power that I know at least three sergeants who served in the Army for 30 years and got no promotion and they have to retire now on £7 10s a week.
Question No. 81.
Dev has no prospects either.
He is not getting £7 10s a week though.
Would Deputies please allow the Minister to reply to Question No. 81?