asked the Minister for Defence if he will state (a) the total number of applications received from Waterford City and County for Old I.R.A. service pensions under the Military Service Pensions (Amendment) Act, 1949; (b) the system used in the selection of the claims to be heard and by whom the decision to call certain applicants is made; (c) whether copies of evidence tendered by verifying officers will be made available to applicants, and, if not, why this practice is not permitted; and (d) the definition of active service as understood by the Board of Referees.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Waterford I.R.A. Pensions Claims.
The records in my Department are not complied in such a way as to supply the information required as regards the number of applications under the Military Service Pensions (Amendment) Act, 1949, received from Waterford City and County. The replies to the other matters referred to in the Deputy's question are as follows:—
(b) The Board of Assessors or the Referee and Advisory Committee, as the case may be, examine the claims received and decide which applicants should be called for hearing.
(c) Copies of evidence tendered by witnesses are not furnished to applicants. It is the normal practice to permit an applicant, who so desires, to be present during the taking of any evidence relevant to his application.
(d) The interpretation of the term "active service" is a matter exclusively within the jurisdiction of the Board of Assessors constituted under the Act of 1924 or the Referee appointed under the Act of 1934, as the case may be. Neither of these authorities has made any specific rules defining active service for the purposes of these Acts, but each case is decided on the facts having regard to the requirements of Sections 1 and 2 (4) of the Act of 1924 and Section 3 (1) and (2) of the Act of 1934.