Vol. 45 No. 1
I move:—
That the Seanad hereby approves of the Garda Síochána Pensions Order, 1955, made on the 7th day of June, 1955, by the Minister for Justice, with the sanction of the Minister for Finance, under Section 13 of the Police Forces Amalgamation Act, 1925, and laid before the Seanad on the 18th June, 1955.
With reference to the motion moved by Senator Hayes, a memorandum, which has been circulated to members of the House with the Order, explains the effects of its various provisions, and Senators will note that the Order makes many improvements in the Garda Síochána pensions code.
It increases the annual allowance payable in respect of a child of a deceased member; provides in certain cases for the allowance for a child to be payable until it reaches the age of 18½ years instead of the previous age of 16 years and also for the payment of the allowance in respect of children adopted under the Adoption Act, 1952.
It removes a provision in the 1925 Pensions Order which pressed very hardly on some pensioners in the past —the provision that pension awards payable following injury to or death of a member were to be reduced if compensation was received in respect of the injury or death.
It also includes a provision to enable a member who had previous service in the Taca Síochána to reckon, in certain circumstances, up to half his service in that force for pension purposes and remedies a defect in an earlier Order regarding the calculation of retirement gratuities payable to members retired on pension in consequence of injuries sustained on duty.
The Order will operate to the advantage of the force and I ask your approval of the motion now before the House.
