Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 28 Jul 1953

Vol. 141 No. 5

Garda Síochána Pensions Order, 1953—Motion.

Minister for Justice (Mr. Boland)

I move:—

That the Dáil hereby approves of the Garda Síochána Pensions Order, 1953, made on the 1st day of July, 1953, by the Minister for Justice, with the sanction of the Minister for Finance, under Section 13 of the Police Forces Amalgamation Act, 1925, and laid before the Dáil on the 18th July, 1953.

The Garda Síochána Pensions Order, 1953, which I am asking the House to approve contains three amendments to the existing pensions Orders. The memorandum I circulated will explain what they are. The first is to remedy an omission in the Dublin Metropolitan Police Pensions Order, 1922, to provide that time spent in the Civil Service by a particular officer will be counted for pension purposes. The second one is to enable pensions to be awarded in certain cases by the Minister for Justice without reference to the Minister for Finance.

Mr. S. Collins

That is an advance.

Mr. Boland

The third is to enable members of the Garda Síochána who are over 60 years of age to opt for the new terms under the new Pensions Act whereby they can get a gratuity on retirement.

Mr. S. Collins

One thing puzzles me in connection with this Order. What exactly is the significance of the change proposed from 62 to 60? Paragraph 1 of article 5 of the Garda Síochána Pensions Order is hereby amended by the substitution in clause 3 of the subparagraph of the word sixty-two for sixty. What does that cover?

Mr. Boland

Members of the Garda Síochána are supposed to retire at 60 years of age. In a few cases they were allowed to remain over that age and up to this they could not opt for the new terms under the new pensions scheme that was brought in enabling them to get a gratuity when they have passed the age of 60. This is to enable them to do so up to the age of 62.

Mr. S. Collins

I presume that the Order and these amendments have been drafted in consultation with the Garda Consultative Body?

Mr. Boland

With the representative body, yes.

Mr. S. Collins

It has gone part of the way to meet the case they were making on this particular issue?

Mr. Boland

That is right, yes.

Question put and agreed to.