The matter, as I said, is worthy of consideration. It is only proper that we should give reasonable opportunities to all Defence Force personnel and I would be only too glad to do anything possible in this field.
Deputy Cosgrave referred to the reduction in the provision for the purchase of horses. In 1970-71 the amount provided was £16,000 and in 1969-70 it was only £12,000. It was felt that a provision of £11,000 would cater for likely offers of suitable horses. If, however, the sum does not prove sufficient, the question of making additional funds available will be considered. The purchase of suitable horses is kept under constant review and Bord na gCapall have also been consulted in this matter. This is part of the scheme of co-operation between the Departmen and the board and this is an aspect that will receive all the attention it merits.
Deputies referred to the military implications of our entry into the EEC. The position in relation to military commitment, if there is one, is outlined in paragraph 6.7, page 57, of the recent White Paper issued by the Government. The paragraph states:
The Irish Government, in applying for membership of the Communities, declared their acceptance of the Treaties of Rome and Paris, the decisions taken in their implementation and the political objectives of the Treaties. The Government have, furthermore, declared their readiness to join as a member of the enlarged Communities in working with the other member States towards the goal of political unification in Europe. It should, however, be emphasised that the Treaties of Rome and Paris do not entail any military or defence commitments and no such commitments are involved in Ireland's acceptance of these Treaties.
Deputy Dowling referred to the question of gratuities for single officers and men on the termination of their service. This is a matter which has been and is being considered by my Department. There are some difficulties involved and there is no immediate solution envisaged. The position is that married rates of pay for officers and men are higher than those for single personnel of the same rank. Yet the pensions for married and single personnel are not very different in amount. In the case of officers the maximum pay of single officers represents a much higher percentage of pay than does that of a married officer. A single soldier receives the same basic pension as a married soldier though the latter's rate of pay is much higher. A married soldier receives a married pension, of course, in addition to his basic pension.
Deputy Cosgrave raised the question of pensions. He claimed that the 1937 scheme was a contributory scheme and that the widows of officers who died before the full contribution scheme came into operation in 1970 should, therefore, receive the full contributory pension. The position is that the 1937 pension scheme was not, nor could it be regarded, as a contributory scheme. There can be no justification, therefore, for paying a full contributory pension in such cases. The benefit has been in operation since 1937 while it has only become operative in the Civil Service and local authority service from 1st October, 1969.
I think I have referred to most points raised by Deputies but there is one here which was raised by Deputy Davern and about which a number of Deputies may be concerned. It concerns the qualifications for IRA widows' pensions, the scheme which was brought into operation last year. There have been instances where for one reason or another persons qualified for pensions did not accept them. The qualification here is that if a member is entitled to a pension by reason of a certificate issued by the referee his widow gets the pension. We have no case of a refusal. This is important because on personal considerations of principle and so on some of those granted pensions did not accept them.
