An Cosantóir

An Cosantóir May / June 2024 www.military.ie/magazine Introduction ARCO, the Association of Retired Commissioned Officers, celebrates its 30th anniversary this year. The foresight and endeavours of our founding members, who came together in 1994, still guide our efforts today. We operate on a voluntary basis, serving the needs of a growing membership of more than 900, who are not just officers who retire on pension, but also includes those retiring early with little or no pension benefits who embark on new careers in the private and public sectors. Within the Defence Community ARCO is regarded as a vibrant, evolving, and flourishing Representative Association, formally recognised by the Department of Defence, and the Defence Forces, as a Veterans' Association. Posture ARCO's aim is: Representing retired commissioned officers of the Permanent Defence Force, ARCO encourages and fosters the unique fellowship and comradeship established during military service and promotes and protects the interests and needs of members, and eligible spouses or civil partners, within its competencies. Our aim and objectives are the basis for our governance, transparency, accountability, diversity, and relevance. We encourage and foster the unique fellowship and comradeship, gained by our members through their extensive military service in Óglaigh na hÉireann, at home and overseas. We provide a strong, collective, and authoritative voice, actively representing and supporting Army, Naval Service and Air Corps officers, who retire on age grounds, or who retire early and transition to civilian employment, as well as spouses and civil partners of deceased members. This encompasses not just officers on a military pension, but also those with little or no such pension benefits. The needs of our members in 2024, is somewhat different from that in 1994, when the Association was founded. Today there is a significant change in the lifetime careers of officers, with a movement towards early retirement from the Defence Forces, and, in some cases, retirement without military pensions. ARCO has, and is, adapting to these changes and remains representative and relevant to the evolving profile of its membership. We are actively involved with kindred organisations and agencies, and we engage in public advocacy and lobbying on issues associated with our aim and objectives. Our Association provides a valuable forum for analysis and debate, which enables us to address a range of issues that impact on the interests and quality of life of our members. Pension Related Issues Pensions, and pension related issues, remain a major focus of ARCO's endeavours. Our Pensions Strategy focuses on: the retention of pension parity; maintaining the value of military pensions into the future; the establishment of a statutory, independent third-party mechanism for the negotiation of public service pensions; the adverse implications of the Single Pensions Act 2012; and, repealing pension abatement anomalies. ARCO has made comprehensive submissions to the Public Service Pay Commission, the Department of Defence, and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform covering Accreditation, Value and Determination of Pensions, Parity Based Framework, and the Single Scheme Pensions Act 2012. An example of our successes in the area of pensions is ARCO's case to the Department of Defence and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform on the application of a specific increase in Military Service Allowance (MSA) to military pensions of July 2019. This case was inclusive in nature, championing all Defence Forces Veterans, including enlisted personnel, and the spouses and civil partners of deceased personnel. Following five ARCO submissions, we were advised that the benefit of the specific MSA increase would be reflected in all military pensions, that included an MSA component and backdated to 04 July 2019. We welcome confirmation from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform that the Pay Measures outlined in the Public Service Agreement 2024 to 2026 will apply to military pensions. This ensures that the current pensions increase policy, of maintaining parity between the pay of serving personnel and the pensions of Defence Forces Veterans and eligible spouses and civil partners, will be maintained for the duration of this Agreement. ARCO is a founding member of the Alliance of Retired Public Servants and is represented on its Council. Having thirty affiliated associations, this Alliance is recognised by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, and the Irish Congress of Trade Unions. Defence Community Engagements with the Minister for Defence include formal meetings on an annual basis, and consultative meetings addressing issues such as the Independent Review Group – Defence Forces, and the terms of reference for the Tribunal of Inquiry. In addition to formal meetings with the Chief of Staff, ARCO has benefitted from a mutually supportive interface with all members of the General Staff, GOCs and FOCNS. Along with the two other recognised Veterans' Associations, ONE and IUNVA, we participate in quarterly meetings with officials from the Department of Defence and with officers from Defence Forces Headquarters. We remain fully engaged with ONE, IUNVA, RACO and PDFORRA in advancing the interests of Defence Forces Veterans. Of significant relevance to serving and retired officers, we are represented on the Executive Committee of the Defence Forces Benevolent Fund, and on CAOGA's Board of Management. In areas of mutual interest, we also interface with the Irish Defence Forces Officers Club (IDFOC). Veterans' Affairs ARCO has actively promoted the urgent need to put in place an inclusive and comprehensive Government Veterans' Policy, and the establishment of a Joint Office for Veterans' Affairs, consisting of personnel drawn ARTICLE BY BRIG GEN PAUL PAKENHAM (RETD) ARCO THE ASSOCIATION OF RETIRED COMMISSIONED OFFICERS CAMARADERIE THROUGH SERVICE Lt Gen Seán Clancy Chief of Staff with ARCO's President Brig Gen Seamus Ó Giolláin ARCO Delegation with Minister for Defence – 2024

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