asked the Minister for Defence if he is aware of the difficulty in obtaining insurance cover experienced by members of the Defence Forces engaged in bomb disposal work; and if he will extend to them the insurance cover provided for civil servants working with the EEC.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Defence Forces' Insurance.
23.
Officers of the Ordnance Corps engaged in duties involving abnormal risks have found that some insurance companies are not prepared to provide them with life and endowment policies and that they can obtain such policies only from companies whose premiums are higher. Arrangements are being made whereby any such officer may be refunded the extra expenditure involved. It has been represented to me that a number of these officers also lost a double accident benefit which previously applied, without extra charge, under their policies. The effect of this benefit was that, while the sum assured was payable in the event of death due to natural causes, twice that sum was payable in the event of death due to accident. Arrangements are being made for the refund to any such officer of the cost to him of securing appropriate insurance cover to restore the lost benefit.
As regards insurance cover for civil servants working with the EEC the Deputy may have in mind arrangements which existed for a time whereby civil servants travelling abroad by air in the discharge of their official duties could be recouped the cost of insurance in respect of air travel. These arrangements have been superseded, and the present arrangement is that cover is provided by the State for civil servants injured on official duty while travelling by air or injured by an injury directly attributable to the existence of a state of war, civil commotion or the like.
In the case of the Permanent Defence Force all personnel are covered by the provisions of the Army Pensions Acts in respect of accident, injury or death occurring in the course of duty. They are also recouped the cost of insurance in respect of air travel abroad on official business.