asked the Minister for Defence if he will consider making payment of increases to recipients of special allowances as provided for in the Army Pensions Act, 1953, retrospective to 1st January, 1953, if necessary, by the introduction of proposals for legislation.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Army Pensions.
The increases in the special allowances took effect as from the date of the passing of the Act, which was the 5th August, 1953. No revision of the effective date of these increases is contemplated.
Does the Minister not consider that rather unfair, in view of the fact that military service pensions were retrospective to the 1st January, that disability pensions were paid from the 1st January and that these people, much more deserving of assistance from the Department of Finance, were paid the increases only from the 5th August? Any Deputy can tell the Minister that they fully expected the increase to be retrospective to the 1st January. I would appeal to the Minister to reconsider their position.
I personally think they were very fairly treated in receiving the increase which was given. It was made very clear here, in the course of the discussion on the Bill before it became an Act, that any increase would not operate from that date.
I do not think it was made clear. Would the Minister not agree that it was his intention and the intention of the Government to introduce this particular measure long before it was actually introduced and eventually passed? Through this delay, unavoidable or not, these people were deprived of a substantial amount of money.
I cannot agree with that point of view at all.