I move: "That the Bill do now pass."
Tariff on Down Quilts. - Civil Service (Transferred Officers) Compensation Bill, 1929—Fifth Stage.
I wish to ask the Minister, in view of his remarks about the principle involved in going to the Privy Council, whether he would consider in the early future introducing a Bill repealing that section of the Constitution—Section 66— which directs that cases can be taken to the Privy Council. I ask him that in view of his remarks, which were rather of a general and vague nature. It would be a very much more honourable and a fairer way of dealing with the whole situation than making general remarks about tendencies and possibilities of appeals to the Privy Council. I would like to have an answer from him about that.
I am afraid the Deputy cannot get any statement on that point on this Bill.
Will the Minister consider the matter from the point of view of national dignity? It would be far better to repeal the article of the Constitution.
I understand that is what the "Irish Times" advocates.
And lots of other people, too.
The "Irish Times" is sometimes right.
Even if we give the "Irish Times" an opportunity of putting that much nationalism into its columns it is very useful. If we had taken up the question of national dignity in the House we should be prepared to use any means to forward our steps towards further independence.
At this stage I want to ask would there be any use in suggesting to the Minister that persons drawing pensions or superannuation of £300 a year or over under this Bill should be compelled to spend their money in this country? I put that to the Minister in view of the fact that it has happened that persons who are drawing very decent superannuation allowances have used their position in other countries to traduce the country that is feeding them.
That is regrettable, but, on the other hand, a great number of people who draw British military pensions and a variety of other British pensions live here and spend their money here. On the whole, we probably do not lose more by the outgoings on pensions than by the amount of money that is coming into the country in the way of pensions.
We do not object to these pensions coming in.
Question—"That the Bill do now pass"—put and agreed to.