Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 22 Oct 1931

Vol. 40 No. 5

Adjournment Debate. - Donegal Pension Claim.

Mr. Cassidy

To-day I asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health to state why he refused to sanction the payment of an old age pension to Mrs. Annie McGranaghan, of Tobber, Ballindrait, Co. Donegal. I may say that this applicant is in very poor circumstances. She was awarded a pension of ten shillings by the Strabane No. 2 Pension Sub-Committee That award was appealed against by the Pensions Officer. Before raising this question in the Dáil I brought it to the notice of the Department of Local Government. The Minister's reply to my question to-day was that this claim was disallowed on an appeal on 23rd September, 1931, on the ground that he was not satisfied that the applicant had attained the statutory age.

In the course of supplementary questions I asked the Minister if he was aware that the applicant was unable to procure her birth certificate owing to the fact that no birth certificates were kept there at that time. I mentioned that I had submitted to the Department the applicant's marriage certificate. I pointed out that unfortunately no age was shown on it and I submitted two affidavits by two old age pensioners furnishing conclusive proof that the applicant had reached the required age. The Minister replied: "I do not think that the Deputy is correct in saying that the marriage certificate contained no evidence of age." I told the Minister that I actually had the marriage certificate and that I was quite correct in what I stated. The Minister replied: "My information is to the contrary."

I have here the marriage certificate. I observed that when I got on my feet the Minister for Local Government folded up his tent like the Arabs and silently stole away. The Minister sits here when other questions are before the Dáil. He sat here while his Party voted £1,000 to feed the animals in the Zoological Gardens. He sat here while they voted £1,000 to provide a guinea pig house, and while they voted £1,000 to the Abbey Theatre in Dublin. When a question comes up in regard to the granting of a pension to a poor old woman the Minister does not think it worth his while to stay here. He is in receipt of £1,700 per annum, approximately £34 a week. Why should a man in that position be concerned with an old woman's pension? I notice also that my colleagues from Donegal on the Cumann na nGaedheal Benches are not present.

An Ceann Comhairle

If the Deputy has anything to say about the subject-matter of his question, this is the time to say it.

Mr. Cassidy

I am referring to the action of the Minister which. I submit, arises out of the subject-matter of my question.

An Ceann Comhairle

It is a peculiar situation, but we are not discussing that.

Mr. Cassidy

It is quite clear that the Minister for Local Government and his Department instead of endeavouring to facilitate old age pensioners send out secret instructions to Pension Officers and they make every effort to debar old age pensioners from getting what they are legitimately entitled to get. In the Encyclical of Pope Leo XIII. it is laid down: "The richer class have many ways of shielding themselves, and stand less in need of help from the State: whereas the mass of the poor have no resources of their own to fall back upon, and must chiefly depend upon the assistance of the State."

An Ceann Comhairle

The Deputy. I am afraid, must confine himself to the person mentioned in this particular question. The question concerns a particular individual and we must confine ourselves to that. Whether the Minister is here or not, it is the Deputy's privilege to address the House on the matter.

Mr. Cassidy

I have the marriage certificate here and I may point out to the Minister that the statement he made to me was incorrect and I have evidence to prove that. I submitted two affidavits of old age pensioners to the Department. I said the applicant was unable to procure a birth certificate because of the fact that those certificates are not obtainable in certain parts of Donegal in the case of old people. There is no age set out on the marriage certificate. The affidavits are as follows:—

I, John McElhinney, of Backlands, Ballindrait, hereby affirm that I am 72 years of age and am in receipt of the old age pension. I have known Mrs. Annie McGranaghan (nee Annie Gallagher) since her infancy and remember her going to school. She would, I believe, be one year younger than I am and I am now 72 years of age.

I, William Sheerin, of Tobber, Ballindrait, certify that I have known Mrs. Annie McGranaghan for the past 52 years. When I first knew her she was a grown up woman of about 20 years. I can certify she is now over 70 years of age. I, William Sheerin, am getting the old age pension for the past 11 years.

Both affidavits were signed in the presence of a Peace Commissioner. When I asked the Minister to-day what further evidence he required he was not able to answer the question. Tonight when I raised this matter again, to show the interest that he and his Party take in the poor, he walks out of the House. Next Sunday I suppose we will have the travelling troup of word juggling orators from the Cumann na nGaedheal Party in Donegal. I hope this matter will be referred to and that the speakers will try to justify the action of the Minister. There has been a lot of talk about discontent in this country. I venture to suggest that actions such as occurred here to-day over this old age pension form one of the causes that bring about economic discontent. At election times the Government Party talk about the poor, but here is the acid test and they have been found wanting. I will prove that the Minister told the House an untruth when he said that I was incorrect in my statement. The fact that he is not here now demonstrates the interest he and his Party take in the poor. It will be the duty of the poor to judge the Minister and his Party when the proper time comes.

The Dáil adjourned at 10.40 p.m. until 10.30 a.m. on Friday, 23rd October.