asked the Minister for Finance if he is aware that the three years' limitation of service for the men who resigned or were dismissed from the Royal Irish Constabulary because of their sympathy to the National Movement in the terms of reference of the Committee to consider the claims of resigned and dismissed Royal Irish Constabulary would exclude many genuine claimants; and if, instead, he would be prepared to have each case considered on its merits.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dismissed R.I.C. Claimants.
My decision to impose the three years' limitation of service, referred to by the Deputy, proceeded from the general consideration that persons with less than that amount of service had hardly served long enough to be vitally interested in the preservation of their superannuation grants, had hardly established a vested interest in their positions, and in some cases had found within their short period of service that they were unsuited for the life of a policeman, and in others, prior to the application of the enhauced Desborough rates of pay, could improve their financial position by resignation. I can hold out no hope to the Deputy of reconsidering my decision.
Arising out of the Minister's reply, I quite see his point that these men may not have created a vested interest owing to the short period of their service, but I would call the Minister's attention to the fact that these men gave very good service to this country afterwards, and I would appeal to him to reconsider that view of the question.
Every factor in regard to these men has been considered as sympathetically as possible, and what we are doing now represents a substantial concession.
Would the Minister be prepared to consider any particular cases to which the circumstances might apply?
I am afraid that I cannot hold out any hope of further consideration being given.