THE SEANAD IN COMMITTEE. - ARMY PENSIONS BILL, 1923—THIRD STAGE.
Section 1 put, and agreed to.
SECTION 2.
(1) Whenever and so long as any officer or soldier to whom a wound pension is granted under this Act is a married man, a further pension at a rate not exceeding the rate mentioned in the appropriate column of the First Schedule to this Act opposite the rate of wound pension of which such officer or soldier is for the time being in receipt, may be granted to such officer or soldier during the continuance of his wound pension.
(2) An officer or soldier shall not be considered a married man for the purposes of this section unless he was married before the day on which he received his wound, and he shall be considered to cease to be a married man for the purpose of this section on the death of his wife or the lawful annulment or dissolution of his marriage save that an officer or soldier shall be deemed to continue to be a married man for the purposes of this section for so long after the death of his wife or the dissolution or annulment of his marriage as he has any child living who in the case of an officer is a son under the age of 18 or a daughter under the age of 21, or in the case of a soldier is a son under the age of 16 or a daughter under the age of 18.
(3) The further pension granted to an officer or soldier under this section may, if and whenever and for so long as the Minister for Defence so directs, in lieu of being paid to such officer or soldier be paid to his wife or applied for the maintenance, education or benefit of his child or of all or any of his children.
I wish to move a recommendation in Sub-Section (3), to omit the words "For Defence."
"So long as the Minister for Defence so directs."
It will be observed that at the end of the Bill there is a definition clause which says that the word "Minister" means the Minister for Defence. Notwithstanding that, and the fact that the definition is observed in some sections, I find in a few sections, such as this Section 2, Sub-Section (3), that the words "Minister for Defence" are inserted. The words "for Defence" are superfluous and the whole description is covered in the definition clause by the word "Minister."
If the effect of this amendment is to do what An Cathaoirleach would call making the matter more artistic, it is in order to move it.
Amendment put, and agreed to.
Question: "That Section 2, as amended, stand part of the Bill," put, and agreed to.
Sections 3 and 4 put, and agreed to
SECTION 5.
(1) The Minister may from time to time supply with the consent of the Minister for Finance to any officer or soldier to whom a wound pension (whether temporary or permanent) has been granted under this Act such artificial limbs, crutches, special boots and other similar appliances as his case may require and may provide for the repair and renewal of any such appliances.
(2) The Minister may with the consent of the Minister for Finance provide for any officer or soldier to whom a wound pension (whether temporary or permanent) has been granted under this Act such vocational training either free of charge or at a reduced charge as such officer or soldier shall apply for and the Minister for Defence shall consider suitable to his case.
I have a similar recommendation to move in Sub-Section (2), to omit the words "for defence" in the last line.
Amendment agreed to.
Question: "That Section 5, as amended, stand part of the Bill, put and agreed to.
Sections 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, and 17 put and agreed to.
