There is a point I wish to raise, of which I have given notice to the Minister. This is a section which remedies a legal difficulty by which, consequent upon a High Court judgment, it has been decided that the consent of the Minister for Local Government is necessary for the dismissal of officers transferred from local bodies to the Electricity Supply Board. One person who took an action in the courts has got his salary, but this Bill proposes that in the case of others, the rights they had are being annulled.
I want to draw attention to one particular case which seems to be entirely singular and about which the Minister might be able to give me some information. It is a case of a person employed by the Rathmines Urban Council who, on his transfer to the Electricity Supply Board, did not avail himself of the terms available. Subsequent to his transfer, his position was found to be redundant and he got what he regarded as a small pension. His pension was determined by Sealed Order of the Minister for Local Government, but it now appears that this officer should have been dismissed—using that word in a purely technical sense—instead of retired. If he had taken an action in the High Courts he would have got considerable results on the basis of the case already decided. I wonder if it is possible in that particular case, where a man thinks he has been dealt with rather harshly and feels that his present position is inadequate, to do anything. He was compelled to sell his house in Dublin and to seek employment elsewhere. His service had nothing wrong with it. The board promised him two-thirds of his salary, but were not able to give it to him without the consent of the Minister for Local Government. I do not think that the Bill needs amendment, but I want to draw the Minister's attention to this case on the section.