asked the Minister for Finance if he is yet in a position to arrange for the rehearing of the claims of certain resigned R.I.C. men who were not recommended for pensions by the Committee appointed to consider their cases, but concerning which cases it is alleged that they were not adequately considered.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - RESIGNED R.I.C. CLAIMS.
SEAN MAC GIOLLA 'N RIOGH
All the evidence put before the Committee was most carefully considered, and the Minister for Finance is not prepared to re-open any case upon which the Committee reported unfavourably, unless fresh material evidence, not previously presented to the Committee, is forthcoming. It must be assumed that as a rule all material evidence was placed before the Committee and consequently no general reinvestigation is called for. In any exceptional case where new evidence of a material kind is forthcoming, that evidence will be considered by the Minister if submitted. The cases recommended by the Committee which still remain to be dealt with must naturally take precedence.
Arising out of that answer, does the President not consider that the answer seems to be somewhat contradictory of the answer given by the Minister for Finance some time ago, when he did, I think, give us to understand that in the cases which had not been recommended by this Committee and which it was urged had not been fully and fairly considered, there would be some opportunity for a review? My recollection is quite distinct on that point.