asked the Minister for Social Welfare his authority for specifying that, in order to qualify for any contributory old age pension, applicants must have a certain number of stamps or credits between the ages of 55 and 70, or 60 and 70, irrespective of their previous insurance history.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Contributory Old Age Pension Qualification.
40.
The Social Welfare (Amendment) Act, 1960, includes provision for the making of regulations to enable insurance under the National Health Insurance Acts and the Social Welfare Acts before 2nd January, 1961, to reckon for old age (contributory) pension purposes subject to such conditions and limitations as might be prescribed. The Act also provides that the regulations so made could modify the contribution conditions for pension in the case of persons who were insured under the National Health Insurance Acts. The regulations made under these provisions are the Social Welfare (Old Age (Contributory) Pension) (Transitional) Regulations, 1960 and 1961.
Am I correct in assuming that the Minister made a regulation which included a qualification for contributory old age pensions which was not included in the Bill when it was debated in this House?
The regulations made were to implement Section 13 of the Act as passed by the House, that is, to make provision for taking into account insurance contributions under the National Health Insurance Acts and under the Social Welfare Acts before 2nd January, 1961.
Surely there is nothing in that which says that those who were in insurance before the date mentioned by the Minister should be disqualified? Would the Minister say where the authority came from to alter materially an Act passed by this House so as to disqualify a considerable number of people who otherwise would be entitled to qualify for a contributory old age pension?
There is no provision in the regulations cutting out anybody who was insured before any particular date.
The Minister did it.
No.
With your permission, Sir, I propose to raise this question on the Adjournment.
I shall communicate with the Deputy later.