Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Friday, 10 Aug 1934

Vol. 53 No. 20

Supplementary Estimates. - Vote No. 66—Army Pensions

Mr. MacEntee

I move:

Go ndeontar suim Bhreise ná raghaidh thar £80,000 chun íoctha an Mhuirir a thiocfaidh chun bheith iníoctha i rith na bliana dar críoch an 31adh lá de Mhárta, 1935, chun Pinsean Creachta agus Mí-ábaltachta, Pinsean Breise agus Pinsean Fear Posta, Liúntaisí agus Aiscí (Uimh. 26 de 1923, Uimh. 12 do 1927, agus Uimh. 24 de 1932) agus chun síntiúisí agus costaisí iolardha ina dtaobh san agus chun Pinsean Seirbhíse Mileata, etc.

That a Supplementary sum not exceeding £80,000 be granted to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending 31st March, 1935, for Wound and Disability Pensions, Further Pensions and Married Pensions, Allowance and Gratuities (No. 26 of 1923, No. 12 of 1927, and No. 24 of 1932) and for sundry contributions and expenses in respect thereof, and to pay Military Service Pensions, etc.

Mr. Dillon

What does the Minister expect this to come to in a full financial year?

Mr. MacEntee

The original Estimate was about £360,000. Of course that is a generous Estimate because we have to allow for all sorts of contingencies, the effect of which we cannot at the moment estimate.

Mr. Belton

Can any assurance be given that those men who fought for freedom in this country and who refused to fight against this country will get at least as generous consideration as those who fought for this country and who also, to a large extent, negatived what they did by afterwards fighting against it? Is it a crime to refuse to fight against this country?

An Ceann Comhairle

The Estimate before the House is for the purpose of a Bill which has gone through all stages in this House and on which the Deputy twice raised the point which he is now discussing.

Mr. Belton

May I ask, without any criticism, can any hope be held out that at the eleventh hour, or on the stroke of the twelfth, something will be done in this measure in the other House for those men to whom I refer, or can any promise be held out that a Bill will be introduced to treat these men not less generously than this Bill proposes to treat their former colleagues? Will the Minister make any statement on that?

Mr. MacEntee

The Minister for Defence dealt fully with that question yesterday, and I have nothing to add to what he said then.

Mr. Belton

He did not answer that.

Vote put and agreed to.