asked the Minister for Defence if he will amend the present servicemen's pension structure to allow NCO's and men promotion of one rank on retirement as happens at present for commissioned officers.
Written Answers. - Servicemen's Pension Structure.
61.
Promotion of one rank on discharge would not bestow any benefit on servicemen in regard to their pension entitlement since a non-commissioned officer or private of the Permanent Defence Force must have at least one year's service in the rank held on the date of discharge in order to qualify for the pension appropriate to that rank.
There is no arrangement whereby a commissioned officer may be promoted on the eve of retirement in order to qualify for enhanced superannuation benefits. In the past, however, certain officers ficers holding senior appointments have, on the eve of retirement on age grounds, been promoted on an honorary basis to general or flag rank but this arrangement did not bestow any benefit on such officers in so far as their pensions were concerned.