That concludes the Report Stage.
OLD AGE PENSIONS BILL, 1924. (REPORT).
The following Government amendments were agreed to by the Seanad:—
(1) Section 1. To delete in lines 25 and 26 the words "2nd day of May," and to substitute therefor the words "20th day of June."
(2) Section 3, sub-section (2). Immediately after the word "week," in line 46, to insert the words, "to a person who, on the first appointed day, shall not have attained the age of eighty years."
(3.) Section 3. To add at the end of Section 3 two new sub-sections as follows:—
"(3) If any person whose pension is reduced or terminated in pursuance of a ruling by the pension officer under this section claims that by reason of his age his pension should not have been liable to be so reduced or terminated, such person may appeal against such reduction or termination as the case may be to the local pension committee, who shall consider the matter and give their decision thereon in the same manner and subject to the like appeal to the central pension authority as if the ruling of the pension officer under this section was the report of a pension officer on a claim referred to him for report and inquiry under Section 7 of the Act of 1908."
"(4) An appeal against the ruling of a pension officer reducing or terminating a pension under this section shall not suspend the operation of such ruling, but if the appeal is finally determined in favour of the pensioner, he shall be entitled to receive all sums which would have been payable to him if the ruling of the pension officer had been in accordance with such final determination."
AN CATHAOIRLEACH
I do not know whether the Seanad will meet next week, but if it were not meeting it would be a convenience to the Government if it were possible to take the final stage of this Bill to-day, because the period that will elapse before the coming into force of the Act, that is the 20th June, will not be very great, and certain preparations will be necessary to be made. It would be convenient if the final Stage were taken to-day.
AN CATHAOIRLEACH
As at present advised, and in view of the slow progress in the other House, I do not see any prospect of business that would justify me in calling the Seanad together next week.
Will there be a possibility of considering that to-day?
AN CATHAOIRLEACH
I think, Senator Jameson, you may assume that we are not likely to get any information that will alter my statement.
I wanted to say a few words on that.
AN CATHAOIRLEACH
You will have an opportunity on the adjournment, but meanwhile, as the Minister says, it is inconvenient to have this Bill held over this week, if any Senator moves and another seconds the suspension of the Standing Order it can be taken now.
I propose the suspension of the Standing Orders to allow the final stages of the Bill to be taken.
I beg to second.
I beg to oppose this motion. It is going to reduce the pittance of the aged poor, and I refuse to be a party to the suspension of the Standing Orders to facilitate the Government in doing this.
Motion put.
The Seanad divided: Tá, 24; Níl, 9.
Tá
- James G. Douglas.
- William Barrington.
- S.L. Brown.
- Mrs. E. Costello.
- J.C. Counihan.
- P. de Loughry.
- Countess of Desart.
- M. Fitzgerald.
- Oliver St. J. Gogarty.
- Sir John P. Griffith.
- H.S. Guinness.
- A. Jackson.
- Right Hon. A. Jameson.
- Sir John Keane.
- P.W. Kenny.
- J. MacKean.
- J. MacLoughlin.
- General Sir Bryan Mahon.
- Colonel M. Moore.
- B. O'Rourke.
- Mrs. J. Wyse Power.
- G. Sigerson.
- Earl of Wicklow.
- W.B. Yeats.
Níl
- T.W. Bennett.
- R.A. Butler.
- M. Duffy.
- T. Farren.
- T. Foran.
- T. Linehan.
- J.C. Love.
- J.T. O'Farrell.
- W. O'Sullivan.
Motion declared carried.
Question: "That this Bill be now passed"—put and declared carried.