asked the Minister for Defence whether he has given consideration to the claims of the noncommissioned officers and men of the regular Army who completed 21 to 23 years' pensionable service during the period 1922 to 1946, inclusive, and who were discharged on pension under the Defence Forces (Pensions) Scheme, 1937, prior to September 2nd, 1946, for their inclusion in the award of pension increase as granted under the 1947 Pensions (Amendment) Scheme to the non-commissioned officers and men who completed the 21 to 23 years' pension able service during the period 1922 to 1946, inclusive, and who were discharged on pension subsequent to September 2nd, 1946; and, if so, whether he will state the result.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Army Men's Pension Claims.
I have considered the cases of the pensioners mentioned by the Deputy, but unless a Government decision is taken on the general question of increasing pensions I am not in a position to take any action in the matter.
Mr. A. Byrne
Will the Minister say how many men are affected? It is possible that only a couple of hundred of those men who left the Army on the appointed day had any knowledge that an increased pension was to be given. Will the Minister find out if those men were encouraged to leave the Army, and if they were brought out on the barrack square and addressed by one of the senior officers who induced them to leave then, and that within a couple of months increased pensions were granted? That is the unfairness of it.
I cannot state now the number of men in receipt of pensions on one or other side of the line. I do agree that there is a small number in receipt of lower pensions. As to the inducements held out to them, I have no official information on that.