Amendments 4 and 5 in the name of the Minister could be taken together, as amendment 5 is consequential on amendment 4.
SECTION 15.
I move amendment No. 4:
In page 12, subsection (1), line 3, after " 1941," to insert " a harbour authority within the meaning of the Harbours Act, 1946,".
The amendment here proposes that harbour authorities should be included among the authorities, committees and other bodies to which this section applies. The effect of the inclusion is that the chief officer of the authority will then be regarded as having the maintenance debtor in his employment. The other amendment is purely a drafting amendment consequential on this one.
I move amendment No. 5:
In page 12, subsection (1) (b), line 16, to delete " a local" and to substitute " an ".
Does it clearly go out from this Special Committee that all of us legislators are now brought firmly within section 15, which is just as it should be?
Why should it?
I will not break the silence.
Does this cover retired people, people who are on pension?
Yes.
And fishermen?
Not self-employed fishermen.
Only if there is a contract of service.
Who is the chief officer in relation to Members of the Oireachtas?
It is the secretary of the Department of Finance.
If a man retires or resigns from his job, what happens there?
If he retires he gets his pension. He would still be entitled to it.
If he resigns?
It cannot be helped if he resigns and is not getting any sum at all.
It would depend on what the terms of his contract of employment were for superannuation.