asked the Minister for Defence if he will state (a) the number of serving officers of the Defence Forces who have been issued with certificates entitling them to draw pensions for service in the Irish Republican Army and (b) the number of serving officers in the Defence Forces who are precluded from drawing such pensions by reason of existing legislation.

The number of serving officers of the forces who are in possession of certificates of military service under the Military Service Pensions Acts is 99. Of this number, 98 officers are precluded under existing legislation from drawing pensions.