asked the Minister for Finance whether he will lay on the Table of the Dáil a copy of the instructions issued to Pension Officers in connection with the work of determining claims to old age pensions, and assessing means of claimants.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. [ORAL ANSWERS.] - PENSION OFFICERS' INSTRUCTIONS.
I cannot agree to these instructions being laid upon the Table of the Dáil. The administration of the Old Age Pension Acts is mainly entrusted to the Revenue Commissioners, who issue instructions to their officers for the purpose of ensuring the just administration of the law. These instructions are for Departmental use only, and are not published. If such instructions were made public, their object would be defeated, because claimants would then know exactly how to frame their cases so as to prevent detection of fraud. Moreover, if Departmental instructions were published as regards any particular section of administration, it would not be possible to resist demands for similar information relating to other sections, as, for example, income tax. Under such conditions the work of many Government Departments could not be carried on.