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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 10 Dec 1952

Vol. 135 No. 8

Merchant Shipping (Safety Convention) Bill, 1952 (Seanad)—Money Resolution. - Pensions Bill, 1952—Money Resolution.

I move:—

That it is expedient to authorise such payments out of moneys provided by the Oireachtas as are necessary to give effect to any Act of the present session to provide for the payment of pensions to the widows of Micheál Ó Ceallacháin and Seoirse Mac Fhlannchadha and a gratuity to a daughter of Tomás Mac Curtáin.

Of course I am agreeing with the Bill, but I should like to say that we have been dealing in a piecemeal way in the past couple of years with cases such as this and I would much prefer if the Government, even with the assistance of a committee from all sides of the House, would consider the question of an all-embracing Bill which would give power to deal with special cases such as these. There are children of leaders and signatories of the Proclamation of 1916 who I think ought to be brought within legislation of this kind. There would be no difficulty whatsoever about it. While I know it cannot be brought within this Bill which is limited in its scope, I ask the Minister to consider the introduction of a Bill which would enable gratuities or pensions to be paid to people such as I have mentioned.

During the period of office of the last Government, I asked the then Taoiseach if the question of a civil list might be considered. I understood from his reply that the matter was under consideration. I see that the same question was raised in the Seanad recently and I think the reply given was that it was under consideration. I avail of this opportunity to say that the Minister might consider the introduction of legislation at a very early date to deal in an all-embracing way with the persons I have mentioned. It is unsatisfactory to be bringing in Bills dealing with named persons. If we could have a Bill passed that would govern the matter in principle, I think it would be a much more satisfactory way of dealing with it.

Resolution put and agreed to.
Resolution reported and agreed to.
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