asked the Minister for Finance if any decision has been made with reference to the date on which Civil Servants who applied under Article 10 of the Treaty may be released from duty.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - RETIRING CIVIL SERVANTS.
I can only refer the Deputy to the reply given to the Question addressed to me by Deputy Redmond on the 26th ultimo on this subject.
Will the Minister give any satisfactory reason as to why there is such an extraordinary delay in dealing with these applications?
The Deputy is aware that the hold-up arose through the taking of the action by Wigg and Cochrane. I have already stated in the House on a couple of occasions that the judgment of the Privy Council in the Wigg and Cochrane case raises not only financial questions but constitutional questions of very great importance. It was difficult to have these questions considered during the summer; Ministers were not available, and afterwards the Attorney-General was not available because he was in Geneva. But the consideration is now advanced, and I hope very shortly to be able to make a statement.
Can the Minister give us anything like a Parliamentary definition of the term "very shortly"?
Will the Minister make a stipulation that they will not take up other people's jobs when they come out; that they will be satisfied with their pensions?