(Cavan): asked the Minister for Finance if there is any fund available to the Government out of which persons who suffer or who have suffered serious personal injury or the dependants of persons who have been killed within the State by bomb outrages or other violent action arising out of conditions prevailing in Northern Ireland may be compensated; and, if not, if the Government will take steps to establish such a fund.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Personal Injuries Fund.
23.
There is no fund available to the Government for the purpose in question. The Government do not at present contemplate the setting up of such a fund but the matter is being studied.
(Cavan): Is the Minister aware that in some border counties some persons have been seriously injured by bomb outrages of this nature and will the Minister agree with me that it is imperative that a fund be available to the Government to be operated on lines similar to the malicious injury code or the code that is available for the compensation of members of the Garda Síochána, to compensate persons who have been injured in this way and that it should be made retrospective?
The Government are certainly not unsympathetic to cases of this kind, and as I have indicated, this question is at present being studied. The Deputy will, I am sure, appreciate that there could be ramifications in it which might not be acceptable or desirable. It is for this reason that the matter is being studied but I can say that the Government's approach to it is certainly sympathetic.
(Cavan): To be specific about it, I am referring to a case in Clones, County Monaghan, where a young man was very seriously injured by a bomb outrage and has been advised, I understand, that he has no redress and cannot get compensation. I want now to ask the Minister to see to it that in the peculiar circumstances prevailing at the moment such a fund is established and that it will be made retrospective. I thank the Minister for saying that the Government are not unsympathetic but he will, I am sure, appreciate that sympathy is simply not enough in cases like this. Tangible compensation is required.
The kind of case to which the Deputy referred is the kind of case in which the Government are sympathetic but it is not as easy as it might appear at first glance to distinguish between these and other kinds of cases. As I have indicated, the matter is being studied with a view to producing a solution which would be related to the kind of case the Deputy has in mind.
(Cavan): Will the Minister say when it will be produced?
I cannot say at this stage, as the Deputy has asked me. In fact, I cannot say at this stage that there will be a fund. I cannot say that positively because such a decision has not been made but I have indicated Government thinking on the matter. As to retrospection, this is a matter which would have to be considered when the decision has been made in principle to establish the fund.
Question No. 24.
(Cavan): I want to urge the Minister to establish a fund.
We would like to get on with Questions.
(Cavan): This is very important.
The Deputy is taking up time that other Deputies would like to have.
(Cavan): More time was often taken up on less important matters.