asked the Minister for Defence if he is aware that the recent increase in pay granted to officers is inadequate to meet the steep rise in the cost of living; and if he will grant a further increase in the pay.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Army Officers' Pay.
The emergency bonus granted to officers of the Defence Forces is, when allowance is made for the increases in consolidated ration allowance which have taken place from time to time since the 1st July, 1940, equivalent to the maximum emergency bonus granted to industrial and commercial workers.
Having regard to the policy which, in the general public interest, has been adopted by the Government in regard to the control of remuneration it is not proposed to grant to officers of the Defence Forces any increase in pay during the emergency other than what has been or may be granted by way of emergency bonus.
It is intended, however, to review the rates of pay of officers after the termination of the emergency.
In view of the large increase which people in the Civil Service got recently, will the Minister take steps to compare that with the increase which Army officers and men have got?
The men in the Army are entitled to the same rate of bonus as the ordinary industrial worker, and they have received that up to the present.