Before we enter into consideration of this Bill, I should like to inform the House that on page 4, line 13, there is a typographical error. "The 15th day of August, 1953" should read "the 5th day of August, 1953". The certified copy of the Bill which was received from the Dáil has been amended accordingly.
Army Pensions Bill, 1962 (Certified Money Bill) — Second and Subsequent Stages.
An Leas-Chathaoirleach
Question proposed: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time."
This Bill effects a number of easements in the existing Army Pensions code and, on that account, I am sure it will commend itself to Senators.
Two of the proposed provisions are quite far-reaching. The first is that which will enable an allowance under Part II of the Act of 1953 to be paid to all the qualified dependent relatives of persons with pre-truce military service who were killed in circumstances attributable to service during the 1916-1923 period or died within four years as a result of wound or disability attributable to such service. At present, only one such relative is so eligible in any case—it may be the widow, or one parent, or one unmarried or widowed sister, or one permanently-invalided brother, or one son or unmarried or widowed daughter permanently invalided since childhood. Under this Bill, the restriction in question will no longer exist. The necessary provision is contained in Section 5.
The second important provision is that made in Section 7 for the grant of married pensions in conjunction with pensions in respect of wound or disease aggravated, accelerated or excited by service and certain final flat-rate pensions in respect of disability attributable to service—less than 80% disability but not less than 50%. Up to the present, married pensions have not been attached to such pensions. As well, the widows and children of such pensioners are now being made eligible for allowances when the death is due to the pensionable disability.
The remaining provisions do not affect quite so many people, but they will be of value to those whom they affect. In Section 3, we propose to admit a specific type of case which could, had application been made in time, have been dealt with under the Act of 1937. That Act provided for pensions in respect of disability aggravated by service. Section 4 will make persons awarded gratuities under the Connaught Rangers (Pensions) Acts eligible to apply for special allowances. Pensioners under these Acts are already so eligible. Section 6 provides for the reopening, where such a course is considered justified, of cases refused in the past because the applicants were regarded as having failed or refused without due cause to come up for medical examination by the Army Pensions Board when required to do so.
Section 8 mainly effects textual amendments of a Schedule to the Act of 1957; the matter is not of any great importance. The remaining sections explain themselves. If there is any additional information which Senators would like about the provisions of the Bill, I shall try to give them when concluding.
This is a welcome Bill. As the Minister has explained, it improves certain benefits to recipients under the Army Pensions Acts. I see that it makes persons who had pensions under the Connaught Rangers Act eligible for special allowances. I wonder, as a matter of interest, if the Minister could say off-hand how many of the Connaught Rangers are left at this stage? I am interested in that merely as a person who has heard a good deal about them over the years.
The only thing one could say about this Bill, if one were to deal with it in detail, is that certain matters might be improved. We must thank the Minister and welcome the Bill for the improvements that have been effected. Under Standing Orders, it would not be possible for us to make the Bill any better and therefore the Bill must be welcomed as it is. If the Minister would give the information I asked for, I should be glad to have it.
I understand that there are 23 Connaught Rangers' pensions being paid.
The two main changes which the Bill makes are first, the change which reduces the restriction on the number of dependants of people killed during the 1916-23 period who may be paid allowances. Heretofore, only one, and one as directed by the Minister for Defence, might be paid. Now that direction will be no longer necessary as all eligible dependants may be paid.
The other change is the addition of married pensions to those categories of pension such as the final, flat-rate pension. I might explain that has been paid in cases where the applicant did not prove 80 per cent. disability but had more than 50 per cent. He was given the option of taking a flat rate pension. That did not carry a married pension. The other category which did not carry a married pension is that which is described as an aggravation pension. The disability was not attributable to service, but was aggravated or excited by it. These two categories of pensioners will get married pensions as a result of this Bill.
Ba mhaith liom ceist a chur ar an Aire. An bhfuil a fhios aige de mhéid airgid sa bhreis is gá chun na daoine nua seo a shásamh agus a gceart féin a thúirt dóibh? An mó duine atá i gceist? An mó a chosóidh sé?
Níl me ró-chinte an méid a chosnóidh sé. Tá a fhios agam áfach, nach gcosnóidh sé mórán i gcás aicme áirithe. Maidir leis na cleithiúnaigh, níl a fhios agam go cruinn de mhéid a bhéas ag teacht isteach. Go dtí seo ní raibh ach cleithiúnach amháin ion-cháilithe. Anois, áfach, tiocfaidh cleithiúnach ar bith atá fágtha isteach. Maidir leis na "Connaught Rangers", is cosúil go mbeidh níos mó ná £2,000 i gceist.
De bhreis ar an méid atá dhá íoc fé láthair?
De bhreis. Tá 23 duine dhá n-íoc fé láthair. Ní dóigh liom go mbeidh an costas ró-throm.
I should like to avail of the opportunity of seeking some information. I am not clear whether the Bill applies to the payment of special disability allowances to people who have got a certificate and, perhaps, a medal. If it does, I should like to know what is the means test in those cases.
We are not dealing with that under this Bill.
Question put and agreed to.
Agreed to take remaining Stages to-day.
Bill put through Committee, reported without recommendation, received for final consideration, and ordered to be returned to the Dáil.
The Seanad adjourned at 4.45 p.m. until 3 p.m. on Tuesday, 31st July, 1962.