asked the Minister for Defence if he will see that a representative of the demobilised officers and men of the National Army is appointed to look after their interests on the Pensions Committee.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - DEMOBILISED OFFICERS AND MEN—REPRESENTATION ON PENSIONS COMMITTEE.
The Army Pensions Act, 1923, lays it down that pensions, etc., shall be granted by the Minister for Defence with the consent of the Minister for Finance. There is no provision for the existence of a Committee such as the Deputy has in mind. An Inter-departmental Committee is, however, in being for advisory purposes, but it would not be proper for me to appoint thereon a person of the kind suggested by the Deputy.
Will the President make a recommendation to that Advisory Committee as to the desirability of carrying out the suggestion contained in the question? It has been done in England.
This is an Inter-departmental Advisory Committee, and as such it has to a certain extent a responsibility for expending public funds. I do not know that I would be justified, when there is no provision in the Act, in making such a recommendation.