asked the President if he will state when it is intended to introduce the Army Pensions Amendment Bill, and the Town Tenants Bill.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - INTRODUCTION OF ARMY PENSIONS AND TOWN TENANTS BILLS.
The draft Army Pensions Amendment Bill is at present being considered with special reference to its financial aspect. Every effort is being made to expedite its examination, but I regret I am not in a position to fix a definite date for its introduction.
I am not in a position to promise the introduction of legislation to deal with the position of town tenants. The problem requires to be examined in all its bearings, and it has not yet been found possible to reach the matter.
Will the President indicate the nature of the trouble regarding the delay in the introduction of the Army Pensions Amendment Bill, especially in view of the fact that the introduction of this Bill was promised before the Christmas recess? At that time a statement was made to the effect that the Bill in draft form was actually placed in the hands of the Minister for Defence.
I am prepared to accept the Deputy's statement that the introduction of the Bill was promised at the Christmas adjournment. I would like to point out that the period of service in the National Army varied from six months to two years, perhaps two and a half years. The liability of the State in connection with any person discharged from the Army suffering from some disorder scarcely makes any immediate statement necessary. This Bill had first to be examined in relation to the number of persons discharged from the Army suffering from one of many disorders, and it was intended to make pensions available for affected persons. Numbers had to be taken into account, and it was a very large undertaking. It was obvious that a short examination, or an imperfect examination, might involve the State in an enormous expenditure. It is unreasonable to ask the State to bear the expense of a pension for a person who joined the Army with a certain disorder and who left the Army with the same disorder.
There are many cases of widows and orphans who have become so because of the service of men in the Army. Those people are now dependent on home help and on charitable institutions. The husbands of those widows contracted ordinary natural diseases while in the Army and they died. Is the President prepared to indicate a definite date when such an amending Bill, as is suggested, will be introduced? Will any assistance be given to such persons as I have indicated?
That could only be given under some statute. We cannot at the present moment state when the Bill will be introduced. I say the Deputy is exaggerating when he says an enormous number.
I did not say "enormous."
The number is not great. Every possible care is being taken to expedite matters.
Am I to understand that the President is now giving us an indication that he is not going to deal with tuberculosis cases? That is practically what the answer amounts to.
I do not know how the Deputy came to that conclusion.