asked the Minister for Finance whether he will state the wording of the "secret instructions" issued by the Revenue Commissioners to pension officers (referred to in paragraph 19 of the Report of the Old Age Pension Committee of Enquiry) on which these officers act in investigating and reporting upon old age pension and blind pension claims.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Old Age and Blind Pension Claims.
The Revenue Commissioners issue instructions to their officers for the purpose of ensuring the efficient administration of the Old Age Pensions Acts. As the instructions are for the use of these officials only, I am unable, having due regard to Departmental consideration, to comply with the Deputy's request.
Would the Minister say why there should be so much secrecy with regard to the administration of this Act? Further, is the Minister aware that the Old Age Pensions Committee of Enquiry reported that these secret instructions had caused a great deal of mistrust and antagonism between local pension committees and the pension officers? In view of that fact, would the Minister not see his way to disclose these instructions?
There is nothing in the way of secret instructions. There are the ordinary instructions that officers get in administering all the Acts, and it is because it would be impossible to publish the instructions that officers get in administering all the Acts that it is impossible to do it in this case. On this matter, I replied at greater length to a question asked by Deputy Tadhg Murphy on 26th November, 1924.
Does the Minister realise that these secret instructions have created a big lot of mistrust in the minds of applicants for old age pensions?
I do not think they do at all.