Martin Heydon
Question:765. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Defence if a person (details supplied) in County Kildare is eligible for a UN disability pension; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27465/13]
View answerTuesday, 11 June 2013
Questions (765)
Written answers
The person in question left the Defence Forces at his own request in May 1988. On leaving, he was granted a short-service gratuity under the Defence Forces Pensions Schemes in respect of his military service. He applied for and was subsequently granted a disability pension under the Army Pensions Acts in respect of various injuries he sustained in a road traffic accident while on United Nations duty in Lebanon in June 1984. His disability pension, which is exempt from income tax, was granted by the Department on the basis that those injuries were found on investigation by the Army Pensions Board (the relevant independent statutory body in such cases) to be attributable to his overseas service with the United Nations. An award by the Army Pensions Board is the only means, other than litigation, by which retired personnel of the Defence Forces are provided with compensation for any injury sustained in service in the Defence Forces. Such Disability Pensions are paid by the Department of Defence and not by the United Nations. I should mention that the person in question also received compensation in 1987 in settlement of a civil action against my Department in respect of his injuries sustained while serving overseas.