asked the Minister for Finance the number of retired civil servants in receipt of pensions who were reinstated in a temporary capacity; and the number of cases in which both salary and pension were paid.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Employment of Retired Civil Servants.
6.
The number of persons currently re-employed in Civil Service posts after retirement with pension from the Civil Service is 323. Payment of pension in the case of re-employed Civil Service pensioners is governed by the provisions of section 1 of the Pensions (Abatement) Act, 1965. The amount of pension paid during re-employment depends on the salary enjoyed by the pensioner except in cases covered by subsection (2) of that section in which pension is paid in full during re-employment. The number of existing cases to which the provisions of this subsection apply is 18.
May I take it that it is Government policy that no young man can take over in this country in any grade at all?
Presidential or otherwise.
If you had your way, they would not.
Deputy Carty has said a mouthful but he will get shot by his colleagues for saying so: he will have to wear a bullet-proof waistcoat.
In reply to that question——
Did you not get it?
——the answer to it is "No".
God save Ireland, so.
He will, very shortly.
In view of the fact that there are so many young people who are qualified and who are offering themselves for such posts, surely it would ease the situation if persons who were in receipt of pensions and who were reinstated in a temporary capacity would retire on pension to make way for younger persons? There is no justification for the present position. How does it happen?
In general, I agree entirely with the statements expressed by the Deputy but there are certain hardship cases in which representatations were made to me by members on all sides of the House to continue in employment certain persons who had come to the age and time of retirement. There are other cases where, by reason of special qualifications, it is in the public interest that such persons should continue in employment.
I hope that does not apply to certain people.
What about Áras an Uachtaráin? Is that a hardship case?
Is this something that helps political acquaintances? I hope not. What is a "hardship" case?
No. Certain extensions are given to Old IRA persons in certain circumstances
I do not think any such thing should happen.
In general, I agree but, in certain exceptional cases, there is hardship.
And you have an exceptional case at present.