asked the Minister for Defence if he will have placed on the Table of the House the necessary information setting out in detail (i) the qualifying conditions for securing pensions under the Army Pensions and Military Service Pensions Acts; (ii) the procedure to be adopted by the applicants, and (iii) the rules governing the courts established to deal with these claims.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Army Pensions.
Mr. Maguire
The information requested in the first and second parts of the Deputy's question will be found on reference to the relevant Army Pensions and Military Service Pensions Acts, and the information requested in the third part of the question will be found on reference to the following Statutory Rules and Orders and Statutory Instruments.
1. Boards established under the Army Pensions Acts:—
(a) Army Pensions Board. Statutory Rules and Orders Nos. 6, 64 and 65 of 1928; 185 and 187 of 1933; and 279 of 1937.
(b) Military Service Registration Board. Statutory Rules and Orders Nos. 277 and 278 of 1937.
2. (a) Orders dealing with the board of assessors appointed under the Military Service Pensions Act, 1924, Statutory Rules and Orders, No. 13 of 1927; Statutory Instruments Nos. 119 and 270 of 1950.
(b) Orders dealing with the Referee appointed under the Military Service Pensions Act, 1934— Statutory Instrument No. 269 of 1950.
These Statutory Rules and Orders and Statutory Instruments have already been placed on the Table of the House, and copies of the relevant Acts are at the Deputy's disposal in the Library of the House.
The determination of service for the purpose of the issue of a Military Service Certificate is a matter for the Referee.
Should the Deputy wish to have any particular points elucidated, either in the Acts or in the Orders or Instruments made thereunder, I will arrange to have this done on hearing further from him.
Mr. Maguire
I wonder would the Minister not see—I am sure he does see—the advisability of placing this information in a concise clear way before applicants for pensions who have to go before the board? Does he not see the necessity of setting out the conditions in a clear concise way which applicants can understand? Ordinary applicants for an I.R.A. pension have very little understanding of Acts of Parliament. In view of the severity of past regulations, and the great disadvantages under which applicants have laboured, I should like if the Minister cannot see his way to give a more explicit assurance, to have an opportunity of raising the matter on the Adjournment.
I shall have the matter examined. I think it is fairly clear but I shall have it examined to see if I can do anything to make it clearer.
Mr. Maguire
If the Minister could state exactly the conditions which are to be fulfilled, it would save a lot of time in dealing with applications that have no hope of succeeding. It would also enable these people to know the requirements they have to face up to.
I shall have the matter examined but I do not know what I can do in the matter.
asked the Minister for Defence in connection with consideration of the claims of Old I.R.A. men for service certificates under the Military Service Pensions Acts if he is in a position to state when it is likely that the Referee and advisory committee will hold their sessions in County Leitrim.
The matter raised by the Deputy is one entirely for the referee, who is not in a position at this stage to indicate when it will be possible for him to hold sessions in County Leitrim.
asked the Minister for Defence if he will state the total number of claims for military service pensions under the Military Service Pensions (Amendment) Act, 1949, which have been decided upon to date.
The number of claims under the Military Service Pensions (Amendment) Act, 1949, which have been dealt with by the referee up to the 31st March, 1951, is 555, and 228 of these have been successful.