asked the Minister for Finance if he intends to introduce legislation to repeal section 15 of the Defence Forces Pensions Scheme, 1937 with a view to ending the abatement of pensions as at present applied to retired army personnel.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Abatement of Army Pensions.
4.
I consider it desirable that the pension abatement rules should be modified and an examination of the relevant statutory provisions is in progress with a view to the promotion of suitable amendments.
Does the Minister propose to withdraw the provision for abatement altogether?
I am examining it from the point of view of modification rather than abolition.
Perhaps the Minister would consider the position in which ex-officers employed by State companies are entitled to draw full pensions but ex-officers employed by, say, the Department of Posts and Telegraphs or the Board of Works, have their pensions abated. That seems inequitable in the sense that both may be financed from public funds.
That question is receiving attention.
Is the Minister aware of the fact that if this review does not happen soon, the increase of 12 per cent in the salaries of these employees will be entirely negatived by the abatement of the pensions?
Yes. That is one of the questions we are keeping in mind.