asked the Minister for Defence if he will state why the pension awarded to Mrs. Geoghegan, 27 Upper Dorset Street, Dublin, in respect of the death of her husband, a member of the Citizen Army, in Easter Week, 1916, has been made payable only from the 1st March, 1924.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - DUBLIN WIDOW'S PENSION.
TOMAS MAC EOIN
The pension awarded to Mrs. Geoghegan was made payable as from the 1st April, 1924. As regards this date, I would refer the Deputy to Section 8, sub-section 2, of the Army Pensions Act, 1923, which adopts Section 7 for application to cases similar to that in question. The sub-section referred to must, therefore, be read in conjunction with Section 7, sub-section 2, which gives the Minister for Defence discretion in fixing the date of commencement of payment of a pension. In Mrs. Geoghegan's case, the claimant had been provided for from other sources, and the 1st April, 1924, was considered an equitable date from which to start payment of her allowance under the Act.
May I ask the Minister why, when quoting these various sections in the interest of the Government, he does not quote Section 8, which is in the interest of the claimants and which states that pensions of this nature can be paid from April, 1922, not 1924?
I would refer the Deputy to Section 8, sub-section 2, which I have referred to.
Mr. BYRNE
I refer to one of the sections which gives claimants the benefit of the Act, and which states that pensions can be paid in 1922, if the Minister so desires.
If the Deputy puts down a question on that matter I will give him an answer. It does not arise, I think, on the question before me.
Mr. BYRNE
I ask your ruling, sir, as to whether the question does not arise. When a Minister quotes three or four sections against a claimant for pension, am I not entitled to refer to another section of the same Act?
I referred to this section in connection with a particular case. If the Deputy wants to hear a history of the case and what this pensioner got from the State, from other sources, I shall be very glad to give it to him. I am sure I will be able to convince him that she has done very well.
Mr. BYRNE
She did not get the benefit of the Act.