asked the Minister for Finance if an application has been received from Michael Ryan, Dublin Road, Portlaoghise, Leix, for a pension under the Superannuation and Pension Act, 1923, and whether, in view of the strong recommendations put forward on his behalf by prominent local public men, he will now agree to issue a certificate under the Act or state reasons why he is unable to do so.
WRITTEN ANSWERS. - CLAIMS UNDER SUPERANNUATION AND PENSION ACT, 1923.
I have under my consideration at present some evidence which was not before the Committee of Inquiry which reported unfavourably on this case in 1923. There will be no avoidable delay in communicating a decision to the applicant.
asked the Minister for Finance if he has received an application from T.J. Wimsey, Netherne Hospital, Coulsdon, Surrey, for payment of a pension under the Superannuation and Pension Act, 1923; if the claim was submitted to and passed by the Committee of Inquiry which was appointed to investigate such claims; if he is now in a position to authorise payment of pension, or state reason why he is unable to do so.
The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. I have given most careful consideration to this case, and I am unable to certify under Section 5 of the Superannuation and Pensions Act, 1923, that Mr. Wimsey's resignation from the R.I.C. was caused by his national sympathies. No pension will accordingly be payable.
asked the Minister for Finance if he has received an application from P. Gunn, Ballacolla, Leix, for payment of a pension under the Superannuation and Pension Act, 1923; if he can now authorise payment of pension in this case or state reasons why he is unable to do so.
The application in this case was not made until 21st December, 1923, and was, therefore, too late to be considered by the Committee of Inquiry into resignations and dismissals from the Royal Irish Constabulary, which reported finally in July. By means of notices issued to the Press and to the men's organisation, every opportunity was given to intending applicants to place evidence in support of their claims before the Committee of Inquiry, and I regret that I am not prepared to entertain any claim for a pension which has not been considered by the Committee unless I am satisfied that exceptional circumstances existed which prevented applications being put before the Committee. In the present case there is no explanation of his failure to apply to the Committee, and there is the additional complication that he was discharged as medically unfit from the force with a gratuity in July, 1916.