asked the Minister for Finance if he will now state the result of the consideration given to the recommendations of the Old Age Pensions Committee of Inquiry which involve legislation, and if it is proposed to introduce proposals for legislation to give effect to these recommendations.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - OLD AGE PENSIONS COMMITTEE'S RECOMMENDATIONS.
In paragraph 47 of the Committee's Report it was recommended that a pension should become payable immediately a former pensioner leaves a Poor Law institution. I am prepared to give substantial effect to this recommendation, subject to some checks necessary to prevent abuse.
The recommendation that retrospective effect should be given to second claims for pensions, if allowed, where proof of age had not been produced at first, is unacceptable, as previously stated.
The recommendation in paragraph 49, that provision should be made for the determination by the High Court of points of law has been accepted.
The recommendation in paragraph 50 is outside the Committee's terms of reference, but the legislation in course of preparation to give effect to the decisions just stated will include provision for such alteration in the definition of the standard of blindness as will remove the hardships which at present arise in some cases.
The legislation contemplated will also probably remove some difficulties which have arisen in the administration of the Old Age Pensions Acts since the change of Government.
Arising out of the Minister's reply, I want to ask if the Minister could inform the House when he hopes to be in a position to introduce the legislation which he has mentioned?
Well, the heads of the Bill are ready for the draftsman, but I could not say at what stage it would be possible to introduce it. However, the delay will not be very considerable.