asked the Minister for Defence whether he is in a position to state when he intends to introduce proposals for legislation dealing with (a) military service (Old I.R.A.) pensions, and (b) extension of the time limit for making application for service medals.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - I.R.A. Pensions and Medals.
asked the Minister for Defence if he will state the reason for the delay in extending the period of application for military service medals, and if it is his intention to introduce immediately proposals for legislation to extend the period of application.
asked the Minister for Defence whether he is in a position to indicate when he proposes to extend the date of application for I.R.A. service medals so as to enable a number of Old I.R.A. men who are disabled and destitute to qualify for the special allowance.
With your permission, a Chinn Chomhairle, I propose to take questions numbered 47, 48 and 49 together.
As regards legislation for military service pensions, this question is under active consideration, but I am not yet in a position to state when legislative proposals dealing with them will be introduced. I hope, however, to have it introduced before the end of the year. As regards applications for pre-Truce service medals, I hope to introduce at an early date legislative proposals for an extension of the time limit.
Is the Minister aware that great hardships exist amongst many Old I.R.A. men because the period has not been extended in order to enable them to obtain the allowance under the 1946 Act?
Is the Minister aware that there are many grievances affecting Old I.R.A. men who were wrongfully refused pensions under the previous Administration?
Is the Minister aware that last summer he promised to consider this matter when the House went into recess? Is he going to wait until the House goes into recess this summer before considering it?
I do not know exactly the point in the last Deputy's question. I promised to consider the matter during the recess and I have kept that promise. With regard to the delay or the hardship arising out of the non-reopening of the date for claims under the medal allowance, I have stated in my answer that I hope at an early date to meet that situation by legislation. With regard to the other supplementary, I am not, nor is any other Minister, in a position to sit in judgment to say whether any pension was or was not wrongfully refused. The thing is, I am endeavouring to reopen certain cases.