asked the Minister for Defence why many soldiers have been refused an opportunity of serving in the Congo while other men have served several terms there; and if he is aware that such a situation has caused serious grievance among many long-serving members of the forces.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Congo Service.
25.
Mr. Ryan
The number of volunteers for service in the Congo has, in general, exceeded the strengths required. Furthermore, not every volunteer is considered suitable for the trying conditions there. It is inevitable therefore that there are volunteers who are disappointed at being refused the opportunity of serving in the Congo but I am not aware that this situation has caused serious grievance among many long-serving members of the Forces.
Mr. Ryan
In order to reassure some men who have applied on several occasions, would the Minister consider asking the commanding officer to consult with these men and to explain the position, because certainly the feeling is abroad amongst many men that they have been deprived of service while others have been given the privilege of going on several occasions?
Any complaints I receive I will pass on for the kind of consideration the Deputy has suggested.
Mr. Ryan
Of course, the Minister will appreciate that it would not be possible for a soldier to use a Deputy for the purpose of conveying a grievance to the Minister to convey it in turn to the commanding officer and many of these grievances are unlikely to come to the notice of the Minister or the commanding officer. If the Minister makes a general inquiry, he will find there are grounds for what I suggest and that there is need for inquiries and remedial action.
I have no evidence that there is any such general complaint.
26.
Mr. Ryan
asked the Minister for Defence whether his Department or the United Nations will pay a pension or compensation to any Irish soldier who suffers physical or mental incapacity or impairment as a result of service in the Congo; and, if so, the nature of, and conditions for, such pension or compensation.
Provision is made in the Army Pensions (No. 2) Act, 1960 for the grant of wound and disability pensions to personnel who receive wounds or contract disease attributable to service with a United Nations Force. The minimum degree of disablement necessary for the grant of a wound pension is 20 per cent and the minimum necessary for the grant of a disability (disease) pension is 80 per cent. Where the degree of disablement due to a disease is less than 80 per cent but not less than 50 per cent a fixed pension is payable.
Provision is made in the same Act for the grant of a pension in respect of disease aggravated by wounds or service with a United Nations Force the minimum degree of disablement necessary for the grant of such a pension being 80 per cent.
In addition married pensions at various rates are payable. Ex-gratia lump sums are also paid to personnel who qualify for pensions. The maximum is £1,000. All expenditure on the benefits which I have outlined is recoverable from the United Nations by my Department.
The Acts provide that generally pensions are payable as from the date of discharge from the Forces and that application must be made not later than 12 months after discharge in the case of a wound and not later than 8 years after discharge in the case of a disease.
Mr. Ryan
Would psychological disablement, such as that which would render a man unable to hold employment for any long period, come within the categories the Minister has mentioned and if not, will he introduce legislation to provide for that?
Legislation may not be suggested by a question.
Mr. Ryan
I want to know if the Minister will consider the case of a survivor of a well-known ambush who appears to suffer from the type of disablement I have mentioned?
I should be glad if the Deputy would write to me giving me precise details about the case he has mentioned.