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Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 27 Jan 1972

Vol. 258 No. 5

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Retired Public Officials.

31.

Mr. R. Barry, Mr. P. Barry

andMr. L. Burke asked the Minister for Finance if, in view of the hardships under which retired civil servants have to live due to the steep increase in the cost of living, he will take steps immediately to improve their position and to relieve their plight.

32.

asked the Minister for Finance if it is proposed to honour the Government's promise regarding retired public officials by granting them pension parity in the 1972 Budget.

33.

asked the Minister for Finance when it is proposed to bring pensions of retired civil servants, including Garda and Army personnel, up-to-date.

With your permission, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 31, 32 and 33 together. The grant of pension increases to public service pensioners and the cost involved are matters for decision in connection with the preparation of the Budget. The Deputies will appreciate that I cannot give any indication at this stage of matters which may or may not be contained in the next Budget.

In view of the fact that one of the Minister's predecessors gave a guarantee some years ago that parity would be reached within a relatively short number of years and that two years ago his immediate predecessor gave a further guarantee that this would be done, surely the Minister would not be disclosing any Budget secrets if he said it was proposed to grant parity this year?

I would remind the Deputy that the decision that was made by the Government at the time was that the principle of parity was accepted but that it was also stated at that time that this would take a number of years to reach. In each of the last three Budgets there has been a stepping-up of pensions to try to reach that goal. The present position is that even the earliest pensioner now has a pension based on the equivalent of retiring, I think, on 1st June, 1969. Therefore, progress has been made in each of the last three Budgets towards this, but I cannot say at this stage, in advance of the Budget what, if any, further progress will be made in the next Budget.

Surely the Minister is aware that the predecessor who gave this promise was the late Dr. Ryan who not alone was Minister for a long number of years but has been dead for a number of years? He said it would take a number of years to put into operation, but have those years not gone by? Is he not also aware that his immediate predecessor said three years ago that he hoped within a year or so to be able to bring pensions up to parity?

I am not aware of that statement.

Probably the Minister does not read the sayings of his predecessor, but if he goes back on it he will find it was said here. In view of the fact that the Budget is so close now would he not get his name down in history as the man who at least got something for the older people, because many of them are dying every year?

Whatever about getting my name down in history, I had better wait for the Budget to do that.

Has the Minister a recent estimate of what it would cost?

It will cost more every year if he lets it run.

I think in the region of £4 million.

Would it be appropriate to wish the Minister long life but that we would not have to wait until after his demise for this problem to be resolved?

It is rather unlikely.

The £4 million is also unlikely.

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