Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 24 November 2022
30. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Defence if he will provide an update on Project R4 - Barriers to extended participation in the PDF: Review of Mandatory Retirement Ages for Officers in the High Level Implementation plan Strengthening our Defence Forces. [58281/22]
View answerMilitary life places unique demands on individuals and it is necessary that Defence Forces personnel are prepared to meet the challenges of all military operations. To this end, it is vital the age and health profile of personnel be such as to ensure that operational capability and effectiveness are not compromised in any way. For this reason compulsory retirement ages for ranks in the Permanent Defence Force are considerably lower than in other employments.
The White Paper on Defence (2015), provides that: “retirement ages and/or upper service limits of Defence Forces’ personnel of all ranks will continue to be kept under review and determined in accordance with key considerations such as manpower policy requirements, operational needs and international best practice”.
The Public Service Pay Commission report on recruitment and retention in the Permanent Defence Force (2019), included in the recommendations, the need to consider options to tackle barriers to extended participation in the Permanent Defence Force, including the possibility of extending retirement ages for members of the Permanent Defence Force.
A joint civil/military review of mandatory retirement ages of all ranks in the Permanent Defence Force has been conducted. The recommendations in the joint civil/military review requires consideration from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, in relation to implications on costs and pensions.
These matters, including the mandatory retirement ages for Commissioned Officers, will be considered further in the forum of an Inter-Departmental Working Group, which the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform has established, to consider mandatory retirement ages and service limits for public service groups who have 'fast accrual' occupational pension arrangements.
