asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will consider introducing amending legislation to provide that old age pensioners whose circumstances require them to live with relatives in the Six Counties will continue to receive their old age pensions where their lifetime has been spent in this part of Ireland.
Ceisteanna—Questions. - Old Age Pensioners Resident in Six Counties.
My Department is at present undertaking a full examination of the old age pensions code and the matter raised by the Deputy is one of the points which will come under consideration in that connection.
I am much obliged to the Parliamentary Secretary, but will he consider this as a matter of some urgency which might be dealt with ad interim? There are cases known to those of us who represent border counties where old people are now living alone in their houses and must either go to the county home or join their children who have taken up residence in Northern Ireland. Could any interim measure be taken to relieve their special circumstances?
I think if you take them back for one day they are qualified.
Not unless you put your finger in the pension officer's eye and the pension officers in Monaghan are very vigilant persons.
I think he must be admitted and one day is sufficient for that.
No, he must have his residence established here.
I do not think so.
If you went to Monaghan, you would find things different.
All I can tell the Deputy is that we shall expedite legislation as quickly as possible. We have the question of non-contributory widows' pensions in the same category. That is all I can say.
Would the Parliamentary Secretary consider adopting the suggestion of Deputy Norton and advise the pension officers in Monaghan to put the telescope to the blind eye?
The telescope is being used every day.
If I bring my particular problem into the range of the Parliamentary Secretary's telescope will he undertake to blacken the glass?
Arising out of the Parliamentary Secretary's statement to the effect that he is considering legislation in his Department, could he tell us whether they are considering the possibility of increasing all these pensions?
That is another question.