asked the Minister for External Affairs what is the attitude of the Government with regard to Opinion No. 38 on the budget of the Council of Europe for 1964, which was adopted by the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe on 10th May, 1963, and in particular with regard to the urgent need to establish a pensions scheme for the staff of the Secretariat General of the Council of Europe which is now in existence for fourteen years.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Council of Europe Budget.
18.
As I stated in reply to a similar question on 16th July, the Government, while supporting the various appropriations in the Opinion, hope that means will be found to keep expenditure to a level not significantly higher than that of the current year, without curtailing any essential activity of the Assembly.
Details of a proposed pension scheme for Secretariat staff have recently been circulated and are under consideration in the relevant government departments. Pending the outcome of this examination and of the discussions on this question which will take place later in the Committee of Ministers' Deputies, I am not in a position to indicate the attitude of the Government in the matter.