Ombudsman (Defence Forces) Act 2004

Remuneration and superannuation.

3.—(1) There shall be paid to the holder of the office of Ombudsman such remuneration and allowances for expenses as the Minister, with the consent of the Minister for Finance, may from time to time determine.

(2) The Minister may, with the consent of the Minister for Finance, make and carry out, in accordance with its terms, a scheme or schemes for the granting of superannuation benefits to or in respect of persons who have held the office of Ombudsman as he or she thinks fit.

(3) A scheme referred to in subsection (2) shall fix the time and conditions of retirement for persons in respect of whom superannuation benefits are payable under the scheme, and different times and conditions may be fixed in respect of different classes of persons.

(4) The Minister may at any time, with the consent of the Minister for Finance, make and carry out a scheme or schemes amending or revoking a scheme under this section.

(5) No superannuation benefit shall be granted by the Minister nor shall any other arrangement be entered into by the Minister for the provision of such a benefit to or in respect of the person who holds the office of Ombudsman otherwise than in accordance with a scheme under this section or, if the Minister, with the consent of the Minister for Finance, sanctions the granting of such a benefit, in accordance with that sanction.

(6) A scheme under this section shall be laid before each House of the Oireachtas as soon as may be after it is made and, if a resolution annulling the scheme is passed by either such House within the next 21 days on which that House has sat after the scheme is laid before it, the scheme shall be annulled accordingly but without prejudice to the validity of anything previously done thereunder.

(7) Where a dispute arises as to the claim of any person to, or to the amount of, any superannuation benefit in pursuance of a scheme or schemes under this section, such dispute shall be submitted to the Minister who shall refer it to the Minister for Finance, whose decision shall be final.

(8) In this section, "superannuation benefit” means a pension, gratuity or other allowance payable on resignation, retirement or death.