Nuair a bhíos ag plé na tairiscinte seo an oíche faoi dheire do dheineas tagairt don am nuair a bhí mórán des na Sean-Óglaigh ag troid ar son na tíre, ag obair ar son na tíre, nó i bpriosúin, ó mhíle naoi gcéad is seacht déag agus ar feadh sé nó seacht de bhlianta dá n-óige, agus dá bhrí sin tá morán díobh aosta faoi láthair agus ag fágaint a bpostanna le pinsin níos lú ná mar is ceart.
Ina theannta sin, tá chuid díobh ina gcónaí lena muintir agus sa dlí a tugadh isteach chun cabhrú leo, ní féidir leo an liúntas speisialta a bheith acu toisc go bhfuil siad ina gcónaí lena muintir.
Go deimhin, ba cheart rud éigin a dhéanamh anois ar son na ndaoine ag a bhfuil níos lú ná punt sa tseachtain; cuid acu gan ach cúpla scilling sa tseachtain acu, mar níl mórán díobh fágtha anois. Tá mórchuid díobh imithe ar shlí na fírinne. Dá bhrí sin, ba mhaith linn rud éigin a dhéanamh chun cabhrú leo, ach níl fhios agam an bhfuil an tairiscint seo oiriúnach chun rud mar sin do chur i bhfeidhm. Tá fhios agam, mar a dúras an oíche faoi dheireadh, go bhfuil eolas againn go léir go bhfuil an deacracht sin ina aigne ag an Aire agus go bhfuil sé toilteanach i mo thuairimse rud éigin a dhéanamh más féidir é a dhéanamh.
When discussing this motion last week, I made reference to the fact, of which everyone in the House is aware, that the Volunteers in their time spent a number of years fighting for the cause of freedom, working for it in special ways, or in prison, and in consequence some of them in the public service are retiring on smaller pensions than they would otherwise have received. In some cases they have a small military service pension which shows that they were active Volunteers and whenever they were allowed that pension it could not count, of course, for a pension in the public services.
Apart from that, the scattered remnants of the old I.R.A. at present are deserving of our financial support. An effort was made to provide for those who were in necessitous circumstances by bringing in the Special Allowances Act which, I think, was welcomed by everyone but, unfortunately, the means test attached to it is such that many deserving people cannot benefit and the reference made in this motion—that the Government should introduce certain amending legislation to ensure a reasonable standard of living for the Volunteers in their declining years—may not be necessary. That, perhaps, could be done by regulation—the question of adjusting or amending the means test. If a man provided a residence of his own, a little cottage or something like that, he would be entitled to draw the allowance but there is a figure of £3 or some such figure counted against him in his own home as free maintenance.
I think that there are many aspects of the Act, as it applies, that should be reconsidered. I know that the Minister is very anxious to do something for those who have service pensions of less than £1 per week, but the difficulty is how to do it equitably and in accordance with the laws and regulations at present in existence. I am sure the Minister has already given consideration to the matter but, at any rate, there is a request from those of the old I.R.A. organisations now left to give special consideration to members with small weekly or monthly amounts.
I believe members on all sides would like to give that recognition to the survivors of the fight for freedom. They spent a great part of their young lives, risked everything they had, lost opportunities perhaps, in many cases, of providing good careers for themselves in life and some of them had to take the emigrant ship. Others had to fit into whatever positions were available at the time. We should all cooperate in trying not to drag on this question any longer but, instead we should try to finalise it now because in a few years it will not be necessary to consider it. Few, if any, will be left to avail of whatever amendments may be made in the laws now applying to them.
There is nothing further that I need say beyond renewing the appeal to the Minister to consider favourably acting on the lines indicated in the motion or introducing legislation or making regulations so that those who did so much against great odds to attain our freedom would not be deserted by the few comrades who are left in their declining years.
