asked the Minister for Defence if there is a difference as between a person released from service (i) on pension and (ii) on retirement pay.

There is no essential difference between the two cases. The parent Act under which Defence Forces pension schemes are made is the Defence Forces (Pensions) Act, 1932. Section 2 (1) of the Act provides as follows:

The Minister for Defence may, with the consent of the Minister for Finance, prepare a scheme (in this Act referred to as a pension scheme) with the object of providing—

(a) retired pay, pensions and gratuities for or in respect of officers of the Forces to whom such scheme applies; and

(b) pensions and gratuities for or in respect of non-commissioned officers and men of the Forces to whom such scheme applies.