Skip to main content
Normal View

Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 14 Dec 1960

Vol. 185 No. 8

Committee on Finance. - Vote No. 52—Army Pensions.

Tairgim.

Go ndeonofar suim fhorlíontach nach mó ná £34,500 chun íoctha an mhuirir a thiocfaidh chun bheith iníoctha i rith na bliana dar críoch an 31ú lá de Mhárta, 1961, le haghaidh Pinsin Chréachta agus Mhíchumais, Pinsin Bhreise agus Pinsin Fear Pósta, Liúntais agus Aiscí (Uimh. 26 de 1923, Uimh. 12 de 1927, Uimh. 24 de 1932, Uimh. 15 de 1937, Uimh. 2 de 1941, Uimh. 14 de 1943, Uimh. 3 de 1946, Uimh. 19 agus 28 de 1949, Uimh. 23 de 1953, Uimh. 19 de 1957 agus Uimh. 15 de 1959, etc.); Pinsin, Liúntais agus Aiscí Seirbhíse Míleata (Uimh. 48 de 1924, Uimh. 26 de 1932, Uimh. 43 de 1934, Uimh. 33 de 1938, Uimh. 5 de 1944, Uimh. 11 agus 34 de 1945, Uimh. 7 agus 29 de 1949, Uimh. 5 de 1953 agus Uimh. 12 de 1957, etc.); Pinsin, Liúntais agus Aiscí (Uimh. 37 de 1936, Uimh. 9 de 1948, Uimh. 30 de 1950, Uimh. 27 de 1952, Uimh. 4 de 1953 agus Uimh. 17 de 1957, etc.); íocaíochtaí i leith Cúitimh do Chomhaltaí den Fhórsa Cosanta Áitiúil (Uimh. 19 de 1946, agus Uimh. 15 de 1949); Cúitimh Speisialta, agus le hagaidh Ranníocaí agus Costais iolartha ina dtaobh sin, etc.

Tá sé beartaithe sa Mheastachán Forlíontach seo foráil a dhéanamh le go n-íocfaí cnapshuimeanna áirithe sa bhliain airgeadais reatha do chleithiúnaithe athchomhaltaí de Óglaigh na hÉireann a maraíodh le linn dóibh bheith ar seirbhís le Fórsa na Náisiúin Aontuithe sa Congo nó a fuair bás de bharr créachtaí nó galair ba inchurtha i leith na seirbhíse sin. Tá sé ar intinn go n-íocfaí cnapshuimeanna de £2,000 más fir singil atá san áireamh agus de £3,500 más fir phósta iad, gan bacadh le céim, sa bhreis ar pé sochair a bheidh ag dul fé na hAchtanna Arm-Phinsean do chleithiúnaithe na ndaoine a luaitear. Chun teacht ar mhéid an Mheastacháin, £34,500, d'áiríodh gur dócha nó gur féidir go mbeidh cnapshuimeanna de £3,500 an duine d'á n-íoc do sheachtar baintreach agus de £2,000 an duine do chleithiúnaithe an chúigear fear singil. Síad na cásanna atá i dtreis ná oifigeach pósta amháin, oifigeach neamhchoimisiúnta amháin gan phósadh agus beirt phósta, agus beirt shaighdiúir phósta agus beirt gan phósadh a thuit sa ghleo; saighdiúir amháin gan phósadh, atá ar iarraidh agus gur dócha go bhfuil sé marbh, de dheasca an ghleo chéanna; oifigeach pósta amháin agus saighdiúir amháin gan phósadh a maraíodh trí thimpiste, agus oifigeach neamhchoimisiúnta pósta a fuair bás de thoradh ar obráid máinliachta. So chás deiridh seo, íocfar an cnapshuim, comh maith le sochair fé na hAchtanna Arm-Phinsean má cruthaítear gur tharla bás de dheasca galair ba inchurtha i leith seirbhíse. B'fhéidir go mbeidh cúiteamh á íoc glan díreach ag na Náisiúin Aontuithe i gcás an oifigigh a maraíodh trí thimpiste agus nach raibh ina chomhalta den 9ú Briogáid; má tharlaíonn sé amhlaidh, ní íocfaidh sinne é an dara huair. Mar a dúirt mé le déanaí ag freagairt ceiste a chuir an Teachta Mac Cosgair, tá rún againn aisíocaíocht a lorg óna Náisiúin Aontuithe ar pé íocaíochtaí a deintear.

Táim cinnte go n-aontóidh an uile Theachta le méid na gcnapshuimeanna atá beartaithe agus, mar sin, molaim an Meastachán Forlíontach seo don Teach.

The purpose of this Supplementary Estimate is to make provision for the payment during the present financial year of certain lump sums to the dependants of former members of the Defence Forces who either were killed while serving with the United Nations Force in the Congo, or died from wounds or disease attributable to such service. What is proposed is that, in addition to such benefits as the dependdants of the personnel referred to may be entitled to under the Army Pensions Acts, lump sums of £2,000 in the case of unmarried men and £3,500 in the case of married men, irrespective of rank, should be paid. The Estimate is for the sum of £34,500 and is based on the prospective or possible payment of lump sums of £3,500 each to seven widows and lump sums of £2,000 each to the dependants of five unmarried men. The cases involved are those of one married officer, one unmarried and two married non-commissioned officers, and two married and two unmarried soldiers killed in action; one unmarried soldier missing, and presumed dead, as a result of the same action; one married officer and one unmarried soldier killed accidentally, and one married non-commissioned officer who died following a surgical operation. In the last-mentioned case payment of the lump sum, as well as payment of benefit under the Army Pensions Acts, will depend on its being established that death was due to disease attributable to service. In the case of the officer who was accidentally killed and who was not a member of the 9th Brigade, it may be that compensation will be payable direct by the United Nations, in which event a second payment will not be made by us. As I stated recently in reply to a question asked by Deputy Cosgrave it is proposed to seek from the United Nations a refund of whatever payments are made.

I feel sure that all Deputies will agree with the contemplated amounts of the lump sums and I, therefore, commend the Supplementary Estimate to the House.

We agree entirely with the proposal to pay lump sum compensation to the dependants of those who died in the Congo. This compensation will in no way compensate for the grievous personal losses sustained but it is at least evidence of the country's desire to recompense in some degree those who made the initial sacrifice towards establishing peace and bringing order out of chaos.

I should like to ask the Minister if the family of a person who dies while serving in the Congo will qualify for a payment of this kind? I understand from the Minister that in one case the United Nations may pay compensation and there will not be two payments made in that case. In the event of a person dying as a result of an accident as distinct from losing his life in an ambush or an accidental shooting will the dependants of such a person be entitled to compensation? I feel that no matter how a person died in the Congo his service was given freely in the same way as that of those who died in the ambush and that his relatives should benefit in the same way. Subject to that query I endorse the Minister's remarks and support the Estimate.

I think there will be widespread public approval of the decision to pay compensation to the next of kin of those who lost their lives in the Congo in what was a noble effort by the United Nations Organisation to endeavour to bring back order and the rule of law into the chaotic situation in the Congo. These young men—they were all young men—would be with us here today in life and in spirit were it not for the fact that their generous impetuosity and their heroic spirit of humanity induced them to serve in the Congo in the cause of peace. They would, therefore, be entitled to take their place as martyrs in the cause of peace and in the effort by the United Nations Organisation to establish the rule of peace and order throughout the world.

No compensation will be adequate for the next of kin for the loss of their dear ones. There is a vacant place in many homes today because of the casualties which our troops suffered in the Congo. Unfortunately, it has not been possible to avoid those casualties, but as they have taken place the whole country will expect the Government to be generous in so far as they can do it in softening the sufferings, economic and otherwise, that many families will have to bear in consequence of the Congo deaths. I am glad that the Minister is making money available on this scale to recompense the relatives of the dead without regard to rank.

It has been mentioned in the Minister's speech that these people will be entitled to other benefits under the Army Pensions Acts and we hope that these benefits will not be attenuated by the fact that they are receiving this compensations. I take it that the ordinary soldier and N.C.O., who was covered for social welfare benefits while in the Army, will not have these benefits attenuated because of the payment of compensation and that that compensation will be over and above anything to which his dependants are entitled under the Army Pensions Acts and the Social Welfare Acts.

That is so.

I should like to know from the Minister when it is hoped to pay this compensation to the next of kin. If it is not possible to pay it all at an early date perhaps the Minister will arrange to pay something on account. It would be useful and helpful to these unfortunate people at this time of the year.

Like other speakers, I wish to say that we welcome this move on the part of the Government to try to compensate or help in some way the dependants and relatives of the young men who sacrificed their lives in the Congo. When this was first announced, the announcement helped through the House the Pensions Bill for the dependants of these young men. It was the announcement that these lump sums were to be paid that enabled the Government to get through the House the miserable allowances which they had in mind with regard to the pensions scheme.

I do not know what the position is with regard to the possibility that the Government will be refunded some of this money from United Nations sources. I wonder would the Minister say whether the Government have in mind something of that nature. I read recently that there was a possibility that the Government would be reimbursed for the expenditure involved in the payment of these lump sums to the relatives of the young men who died. If it is true that the Government is to be refunded, in whole or in part, the amount of money which is being voted here tonight, then the question of their generosity is not so important. I do not know how accurate the statement is and I am asking for information. If there is a possibility of a refund, I think the Government and the country have a duty to make a very generous gesture out of our own resources in addition to whatever funds may be made available by the U.N.O.

I am very grateful to the Deputies who spoke for the manner in which they received the Estimate and for the tributes which they paid to the young men who unfortunately lost their lives in the Congo. With regard to the points that were raised, a person who died as a result of accident or disease in the Congo will be covered, provided the death is held to have arisen out of his service. I can assure Deputy Norton that the benefits to which widows of the people killed would be entitled under the Social Welfare Acts will be available in addition to the payments granted under the Supplementary Estimate.

With regard to the question of whether the money will be refunded by the United Nations, as I said in my opening statement it is proposed to seek from the United Nations a refund of whatever payments are made. I cannot say at the moment whether it will be recoverable in whole or in part but it is intended to claim it. This liability was incurred by the Government as a result of United Nations service and we consider that it should be a matter for the United Nations but, of course, we also contribute our share to the funds of the United Nations.

I would ask the House to pass the Supplementary Estimate.

Vote put and agreed to.
Supplementary Estimate reported and agreed to.
Top
Share