asked the Minister for Defence whether John Joyce, Hollymount, Co. Mayo, is in receipt of a pension under the Military Service Pensions Act, 1925, and, if so, whether he will state the years of service and the service rendered by this man to entitle him to a military service certificate.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - MILITARY SERVICE PENSION.
The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative.
The years of service which entitle John Joyce to his pension make up the following periods:—One-half of the entire period from the 1st April, 1920, to the 31st March, 1921; entire period from the 1st April, 1921, to the 11th July, 1921; entire period from the 1st July, 1922, to the 30th September, 1923.
The Board of Assessors reported to me that John Joyce rendered service as required by the Military Service Pensions Act, 1924, throughout those periods.
Will the Minister state in what way John Joyce rendered service previous to the Truce— that is, from 1920?
I do not know.
Was it as a member of the I.R.A.
I have no information about it. The evidence is submitted to the Board; I do not have access to it.
I can state that this man was not a member of the I.R.A. previous to the Truce.
It is very interesting to hear that.