Batt O'Keeffe
Ceist:666 Mr. B. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Defence the reason ex-servicemen who left the Army prior to 1990 have not been paid service pay in their monthly Army service pensions. [16393/96]
Written Answers. - Army Pensions.
I presume the Deputy is referring to the question of the inclusion of Military Service Allowances (MSA) in Defence Forces' pensions.
In its report dated 31 July 1990, the Commission on Remuneration and Conditions of Service in the Defence Forces (the Gleeson Commission) recommended that MSA should be made pensionable. On foot of this recommendations, an addition to Defence Forces' service pensions in respect of MSA was introduced and applies, subject to certain conditions, to personnel retiring on or after 1 August 1990, i.e. the day following publication of the Gleeson report.
MSA has been reckoned in the calculation of the pensions of all qualified retired personnel. However, having regard to established superannuation practice in other areas of the public service and the cost involved I regret to say that the extension of the measure to personnel who retired prior to 1 August 1990 cannot be undertaken.