asked the Minister for Finance whether he has received an application from Miss M.J. O'Neill, Post Office Assistant, Cahirciveen, for the payment of full wages to her during the period of her suspension from duty for eight weeks during the civil disturbances, whether he is aware that this officer only received half-pay for that period, although there was no charge preferred against her, and the military officer who suspended her has admitted there was no justification for doing so, and whether, in these circumstances, he will authorise the payment of full wages to this officer.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - CAHIRCIVEEN P.O. OFFICIAL'S WAGES.
The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. In deciding to confirm Miss O'Neill's reinstatement in the Postal Service, the Executive Council gave due weight to all the evidence adduced. As regards the question of pay for the period in question, her case had to be considered side by side with many similar ones where suspension under suspicion of complicity had occurred, and it was only after the most careful consideration of all the circumstances of all the cases that I decided to give her half-pay for the period of her absence. I regret that I am unable to depart now from that decision, and I would remind the Deputy that in effect it ensured the preservation of her full incremental and pension rights.