I raised a question last week in connection with the issue of modified war certificates to officers appointed on special recommendations. The Minister undertook to look into the matter and furnish me with information later. I should be glad to know if the Minister is in possession of that information now.
APPROPRIATION BILL, 1926—THIRD AND FINAL STAGES.
Bill passed through Committee and reported without amendment.
Standing Orders suspended.
Question—"That the Bill be received for final consideration"—put and agreed to.
Question proposed, "That the Bill do now pass."
There were certain difficulties in preparing regulations to deal with these cases, but they are, at the moment, under consideration. The cases of certain individuals who had received special recommendations— men in the Post Office—are now due for reconsideration and are being reconsidered. The position of the men will not be prejudiced by the fact that there has been a change of Government. They will be dealt with by our Civil Service Commission in precisely the same way as they would have been dealt with otherwise.
That is what the Minister's Department has been saying for some time—that these regulations are in draft. They are a long time in draft. Meantime, these men are paying unemployment and national health insurance contributions, and are suffering all the disabilities of unestablished officers. I should be glad if the Minister would expedite the matter, so as to get these anomalies removed at the earliest date.
The delay was due to difficulties which have now, I think, been overcome. There will not be any further delay of consequence in dealing with these men.
Question put and agreed to.
Bill certified as a Money Bill, within the meaning of Article 35 of the Constitution, and ordered to be sent to the Seanad.
The Dáil went into Committee on Finance.