asked the Minister for Justice if he will state when he expects to introduce legislation amending the Gárda Síochána Compensation Act, 1941, and whether he intends to extend its provisions to include members of the force killed or maimed prior to the 1st of January, 1940; and, further, whether he will undertake to amend the 1941 Act so as to define more accurately duties involving special risk, and injuries of a minor character; and, in particular, whether he intends, in the contemplated legislation, to remove the effect of recent High Court and Supreme Court decisions, and to extend the definition of "loss" to include such considerations as shock, outraged feelings, loss of companionship, etc.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Gárda Síochána Compensation Act.
Mr. Boland
A Bill will shortly be introduced to amend the Act of 1941 as regards the measure of compensation to be awarded to dependents of murdered members of the Gárda Síochána.
Will you extend the provisions of that Bill to those murdered prior to 1940?
"The Minister."
Mr. Boland
I think the best thing to do would be to wait until we have the Bill. It is in preparation and I hope to introduce it soon. I cannot say exactly what is in it at the moment.
Could you——
The Minister should be addressed through the Chair.
——give us any approximate idea of the date?
Mr. Boland
I cannot. I am trying to get it out as quickly as possible.