asked the Minister for Finance (a) the number of civil servants who have retired owing to the change of Government under Article 10 of the Treaty, discriminating between males and females; (b) the number of civil servants who have been discharged from office under the above Article discriminating between males and females; (c) the total amount of the enhanced compensation to each of the above classes awarded under the judgment of the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council restoring Mr. Justice Meredith's judgment in the case of Wigg and Cochrane versus the Attorney-General of the Irish Free State; (d) the number of unreleased civil servants, discriminating between males and females, who have lodged their applications for retirement and consequent compensation under Article 10 up to 23rd February, 1928; and (e) if he will state why the Treaty pensioners residing outside the Free State have not been paid their bonus pensions at the Free State rate instead of the British rate.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - ARTICLE X OF THE TREATY.
The number of civil servants who retired in consequence of the change of Government effected by the Treaty is 978, i.e., 837 men and 141 women. The number (including petty sessions clerks, resident magistrates, Crown solicitors, court officials, etc.), who have been discharged from office with compensation under Article 10 is 530, i.e., 484 men and 46 women.
Compensation, if awarded in these cases in accordance with the opinions expressed by the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in the Wigg and Cochrane case, would entail an immediate expenditure of £48,000. The annual compensation charge would, in addition, be increased. It has not been possible in the time available for preparation of this reply to apportion the increased charge among the classes referred to.
The number of pending applications to retire in consequence of the change of Government received prior to the 23rd February, 1928, is 301, including 261 men and 40 women. The compensation charge in respect of these retirements cannot be assessed pending a determination of the applications.
As regards the concluding part of the question the change to payment by reference to the Saorstát Cost of Living Index figure in the case of persons resident outside the Saorstát, has not been made pending a final settlement of the general issues raised in the course of the Wigg and Cochrane litigation.