Today I propose to defer to another time the Castletown gate access to allow negotiations take place. Instead, I will raise another issue which affects the Defence Forces. Specifically it relates to former members of the Defence Forces who may have incurred injury in the course of their duty and who have retired on pension only to find at a later stage there is a monthly deduction from their pension on foot of the award they may have received on a personal injury basis in the courts. I have raised this with the Tánaiste before. He is familiar with the subject. I ask that the practice be reviewed on the basis that the courts have made their decision. The injury took place and the award was made on that basis. It should not follow that the State seeks the right to recover part of the award from the pension, or all of it, years later.

I am aware of what the Deputy is saying although any case that has come before me, I have looked at on its individual merits and chosen not to reduce any award as the pension is awarded. I have done so on the individual merits of a given case that has come before me. I stand to be corrected, but I do not think a case has come before me yet where I have acceded to the idea of reducing it.

I will bring it back to the Tánaiste.

I know there is a general point but I look at each case individually.

Thank you.