Dáil Éireann debate -
Friday, 31 Jul 1953

Vol. 141 No. 8

Committee on Finance. - Vote 57—Army Pensions.

Minister for Defence (Mr. Traynor)

I move:—

That a supplementary sum not exceeding £193,545 be granted to defray the Charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of March, 1954, for Wound and Disability Pensions, Further Pensions and Married Pensions, Allowances and Gratuities (No. 26 of 1923, No. 12 of 1927, No. 24 of 1932, No. 15 of 1937, No. 2 of 1941, No. 14 of 1943, No. 3 of 1946 and Nos. 19 and 28 of 1949, etc.); Military Service Pensions, Allowances and Gratuities (No. 48 of 1924, No. 26 of 1932, No. 43 of 1934, No. 33 of 1938, No. 5 of 1944, Nos. 11 and 34 of 1945 andNos. 7 and 29 of 1949, etc.); Pensions, Allowances and Gratuities (No. 37 of 1936, No. 9 of 1948, No. 30 of 1950, No. 27 of 1952, and No. 4 of 1953); Payments in respect of Compensation for Members of the Local Defence Force (No. 19 of 1946 and No. 15 of 1949); and for sundry Contributions and Expenses in respect thereof, etc.

I am asking the House to agree to the Supplementary Estimate for the items which are included on the printed paper which has been circulated.

Mr. D. Costello

I want to raise a short point on Army pensions, the subject matter of this Supplementary Estimate, in order to get the Minister's consideration of it. I was not able to raise the matter on the Second Reading of the Army Pensions Bill because the matter had not been brought to my attention. I would be glad if the Minister would give sympathetic consideration to this case.

Under the Bill, a widow of a captain with one child will not get the same pension as, but less than, the widow of a non-commissioned officer with one child. I would like to see an amendment brought in by the Minister to rectify that situation, so that widows of commissioned officers and non-commissioned officers, with one child, will receive the same amount of pension. Perhaps the Minister could amend the Bill in that respect. Then the widow of a captain killed on duty would have at least the same pension rights as the widow of a non-commissioned officer.

The reason why the widow of a non-commissioned officer gets more is that she is entitled to pension under the Social Welfare Act in respect of the death of her husband, while the widow of a commissioned officer is not. I would be glad if the Minister would have the situation rectified and the two pensions made level.

An Ceann Comhairle

I do not want that suggestion of legislation, made on the Estimate, to be taken as a precedent.

Mr. Traynor

The Bill to which the Deputy referred has been passed by both Houses of the Oireachtas and iswith the President. We cannot do anything about it now, but I will have the Deputy's remarks brought to the attention of the Department, to see if anything can be done.

Mr. D. Costello

I would be obliged if the Minister would do that.

Question put and agreed to.

Supplementary Estimate reported and agreed to.