I move that this Bill be now read a Second Time. This is a Bill that is long overdue. The long title explains the principle. It is:
An Act to make provision for the formulating and carrying out of schemes for the provision of retired pay, pensions or gratuities for or in respect of members of the armed forces of Saorstát Eireann, certain former members of the said forces now serving in the Civil Service of Saorstát Eireann or the Gárda Síochána, and members of the Army Nursing Service.
The Bill is an enabling Bill. The Pension Scheme is not set out in it but it enables the Minister for Defence, with the consent of the Minister for Finance, to prepare a scheme for the provision of retired pay, pensions, and gratuities for officers; pensions and gratuities for non-commissioned officers and men; and pensions and gratuities for members of the Army Nursing Service. The Army Reservists, of course, are short-term servers who will not come into the Pension Scheme. The idea is simply to provide for the old age of officers and soldiers, who make service to the nation in arms their life work, just as civil servants, members of the Gárda Síochána and teachers are provided for in their old age. The Pension Scheme, as prepared by the Minister and approved by the Minister for Finance, will have to come before both Houses of the Oireachtas and a definite motion approving of the scheme will have to be put through both Houses, and, if any amendments are made afterwards, the same procedure must be followed. I do not think there is anything further to explain about the Bill. The Pension Scheme will come before both Houses of the Oireachtas in due course and it can be criticised.