Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 March 2004
111 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Defence the consideration given to the payment of the military service allowance to soldiers that have retired; the representations he has received in relation to the matter; his plans to implement the payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8906/04]
View answerArising from a recommendation made in 1990 by the Commission on Remuneration and Conditions of Service in the Defence Forces, the Gleeson commission, military service allowance was made pensionable in the case of personnel retiring on or after 1 August 1990. This approach was fully consistent with settled public service pensions policy which provides that the benefit of an allowance being made pensionable for serving personnel does not extend to existing pensioners.
More recently, the Commission on Public Service Pensions specifically addressed the issue of the pensionability of allowances, including military service allowance, and the consequences for public service pensioners generally in its final report which was published in January 2001. However, having considered the arguments advanced by the groups affected, together with long-standing public service pensions policy in that context and the substantial cost implications involved, the commission did not recommend any increase for the pensioners concerned. No change in existing policy on this matter has been authorised or is contemplated.
