Cronin, JeremiahTuesday, 20 July 1971 |
Dáil Eireann Debate
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Army Pensions Bill, 1971: Second Stage.
I move: “That the Bill be now read a Second Time.” The Bill deals with the provision of allowances for the widows of pensioners under the Military Service Pensions Acts, 1924 and 1934, and service pen...
I am grateful to Deputies for their worthwhile contributions on this Bill. Indeed, it is gratifying that the House has always shown warm appreciation of the veterans of the War of Independence. Of co...
It is only in recent years difficulty has been experienced in regard to verifying officers.
I would say there is difficulty at the moment in relation to the award of medals because of the number of verifying officers who are deceased.
I do not think it is really a valid point.
Deputy Tully also suggested that the allowances should be made retrospective to 1st April or an earlier date. In this respect, the allowances follow the pattern of the social welfare benefits announc...
The social welfare benefits come into effect on 1st October.
There are always good reasons for fixing a starting date and it is, I think, reasonable that these should come into effect on 1st October. This is a very desirable and a very welcome scheme. Deputie...
That is not the point. The Budget provision was in respect of military service pensioners. We cannot vary that.
There had to be a basis of assessment. There will always be exceptional cases and hardship cases. Generally speaking, this is generous in that there are no strings attached and the allowance will not...
I will be glad to inform the Deputy.
The number of qualified widows must be an estimated figure but it will be something over 3,000. The allowances will range from £52.20 to £600 a year.
The lowest point will be £52.20 and going as high as £600.
That is correct.
What will be given will range from £52.20 to £600. There are nominal pensions. Since 1959 Old IRA pensions have been increased by 116½ per cent.
Some of the pensions are nominal because of the nature of the service.
That is so. This scheme, however, is making reasonable provision for widows even though the husbands' pensions were at a very low level.
Obviously there will be difficulties in identifying widows in many cases, but we will advertise and check the Department's records to ensure nobody is omitted.
We will see if that will be practicable.
We will advertise and invite applications. We will leave no stone unturned to ensure every qualified widow gets an allowance.
There are Old IRA pensions lower than £66 a year.
I have covered the main points in the debate so far.
The estimated cost in the current year will be £92,000 and in a full financial year it will be approximately £220,000.
The £110,000 includes the cost of bringing military service pensions up to a minimum of £52.20 a year. I am well aware of the figures. The £92,000 is the correct figure in the current financial year...
Now.
It is not open to me to amend the qualifying conditions for an allowance laid down in the Budget Statement as being applicable to military service pensioners.
I should have thought the House would accept this Bill with open arms; it makes a generous contribution.
Committee on Finance. - Army Pensions Bill, 1971: Money Resolution.
I move: That it is expedient to authorise such payments out of moneys provided by the Oireachtas as are necessary to give effect to any Act of the present session to provide for the granting of allowa...
Committee on Finance. - Army Pensions Bill, 1971: Committee and Final Stages.
I am very disappointed that the Deputy does not know the difference between a military service pension and a special allowance.
A military service pension is given for active service whereas a person who holds a service medal without bar, in respect of IRA membership or participation, is eligible to apply for a special allowan...
Deputy Clinton raised the point that there are people who would be entitled to a military service pension but who did not apply in time and who are not in receipt of a special allowance. In our estim...
I strongly sympathise with Deputy Tully's viewpoint. If it were practicable I would be willing to meet his request. There would be many difficulties involved. I would be surprised if there are any ...
——I am anxious to do the right thing in respect of the widows. I shall have a look at it.
That is not quite correct. It will be a total figure of £110,000——
——inclusive of the cost of bringing up small pensions to a minimum figure of £52.20 a year.
In relation to the present scheme there is, of course, no means test. In fact, pensions of other kinds will not be taken into account. Question put and agreed to. SECTION 2. Question proposed: “That ...
Yes. It will be returnable as income for tax purposes.
I have dealt with that point already. This scheme has a minimum of qualifying conditions. The question of a means test was raised by Deputy Cott and in explanation I said that, in fact, there are no ...
The only undertaking I gave was that I would look with sympathy at the points raised.
Beyond that, I am afraid I could not go. Question put and agreed to. Question: “That the Bill do now pass”, put and agreed to.
Written Answers. - Army Civilian Employees.
The following is the information requested in so far as wages and wage adjustments from 1st January, 1970, are concerned:
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