Page 12 - Signal Summer 2018

| RACO PSPC |

linked to mandatory retirement ages that are sig- ognition of the unique demands of forced early retire-
2
nificantly lower than Public Servants (68 going to ment, in advance of the payment of the State Pension
70). Specialist streams where career advancement (Contributory). This scheme, provided for under the
is prohibited by rank numbers results in forced Defence Forces Conciliation and Arbitration Scheme
retirement at Captain or Commandant. Where in 2009, is known as Conciliation Council Resolution
specialist officers do not have a career expectation (CCR) 421. CCR 421 includes the Department of
and timeline to at least 58 (rank of Commandant), Defence’s acknowledgement that this compulsory early
financial demands will undoubtedly force an exit retirement regime sets the military profession apart from
with a consequential loss of corporate expertise occupations in other areas of the Public Service.
from the Defence Forces. Where the Fixed Period In contrast to how the Defence Sector is addressing this
Promotion model of career advancement proved a anomaly for post-2013 entrants, Government recently
most cost-effective practise, this proven HR model approved the increase in mandatory retirement ages
was removed in 2013 resulting in an increase in (65-68/70) for other Public Servants in order to provide
early exits from the specialist streams. a solution to the similar scenario impacting on those
public servants originally due retirement at 65.
Remuneration- more favourable remuneration (pay, The implication of this position is that these officers,
compensatory allowances and pension benefits) and mandatorily retired at 58 or 60, will have a final benefit
greater stability in work life balance is strongly influ- pension less the value of the State Pension Contributory
encing the continued exodus from the Defence Forces (SPC). New entrant officers will therefore be at a loss
into other Private and Public-Sector Employment. to the value of the SPC (currently €12,390) until they
(University of Limerick Focus Group Report 2017). reach the age at which the SPC becomes payable (68
in 2028 and extending outwards). This is despite the
Superannuation- Single Pension Scheme - Post 01 fact that these Defence Force officers pay higher con-
January 2013 Entrants. tributions (by means of the Additional Superannuation
Contribution) than that paid by standard accrual public
The Single Pension Scheme fails to adequately sustain servants.
Single Scheme officers to a viable or life sustaining stan- The Association has recently made a request to the
dard on retirement. This is despite the reality that man- Minister to address this significant issue on behalf of
datory early retirement for Defence Forces personnel is New Entrant Officers highlighting the Defence Force
a condition of service, enforced by Government Policy service anomalies relative to more favourable service
(and has been previously acknowledged as such by the in the greater Public Sector. Where there is no pos-
Public Service Pay Commission in their report 2017). itive movement or response from the Minister or
Defence Sector Management on how the issue
The Defence Forces has an existing arrangement, for will be resolve, they have now passed the issue to
officers that were commissioned prior to 2013, for the PSPC 2 to remedy. RACO has not yet seen the
the payment of a “supplementary pension”, in rec- Department of Defence submission to the PSPC 2.
This issue and recommendations on how it should
2 Retirement Age of PRSI Class A Commandant is 58 years of age. be addressed should be included.

16 | | SUMMER ‘18 |