The Firefighters’ Compensation Scheme (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2008.

8.  After Part 7, insert—

“PART 7A RESERVISTS

Interpretation of Part 7A

1.— (1) This Part applies to a person who—

(a) on or after 6th April 2006—

(i) takes up employment with the Board , or

(ii) having been employed by the Board before that date, becomes a member of the New Firefighters’ Pension Scheme; and

(b) immediately before undertaking relevant service in the reserve forces, is employed by the Board as a firefighter,

and in this Part such a person is referred to as a reservist.

(2) For the purposes of this Scheme a reservist shall be treated as having continued to be a firefighter during his period of relevant service in the reserve forces (referred to in this Part as his “forces period”).

(3) References in this Part to relevant service in the reserve means service in the forces specified in section 1(2) of the Reserve Forces 1996 Act(1)—

(a) in pursuance of a training obligation under Part 3 of that Act; or

(b) by virtue of a call out for permanent service or a recall under the Reserve Forces Act 1980(2) or Part 7 of the Reserve Forces Act 1996.

Awards to reservists

2.— (1) This rule applies to a reservist who, at the end of his forces period, is permanently disabled.

(2) Subject to paragraph (3), article 12 of the New Firefighters’ Pension Scheme (award on ill-health retirement) has effect in relation to a reservist to whom this rule applies as if the reservist were a firefighter member taking ill-health retirement at the end of his forces period.

(3) Where the infirmity that occasioned his incapacity for the performance of duty was occasioned by an injury received during his forces period or by a qualifying injury the Board may—

(a) pay him, instead of an ill health pension under article 12 of the New Firefighters’ Pension Scheme, a pension at the rate of one twelfth of his final pensionable pay, and

(b) subject to paragraph (4), increase any such pension.

(4) Paragraph 1 of Schedule 6A has effect for limiting increases under paragraph (3)(b).

Awards on death of reservists

3.— (1) This rule applies in the case of a reservist who—

(a) dies during his forces period, or

(b) was permanently disabled at the end of his forces period, has not since been a firefighter, and dies either from the effects of an injury that occasioned his incapacity for the performance of duty or while in receipt of a pension.

(2) If the reservist dies from the effects of an injury received during his forces period or a qualifying injury, the Board may, subject to paragraph 3, increase any pension or child’s pension payable under articles 23, 28 or 31 of the New Firefighters’ Pension Scheme.

(3) Paragraphs 2 and 3 of Schedule 6A have effect for limiting increases under paragraph (2).

Reservists who resume service as firefighters

4.   Paragraph (2) of rule 2 or, as the case may be, paragraph (2) of rule 3 shall apply in relation to a reservist who, having sustained an injury during his forces period and resumed service as a firefighter—

(a) is permanently disabled, or

(b) dies, whether or not while serving as a firefighter,

as they apply in relation to reservists to whom rule 2 or, as the case may be, rule 3 applies.”

(1)

1996 c. 14.

(2)

1980 c. 9.