asked the Minister for Finance if the case of a State servant (name and address supplied) differs from the cases of two other State servants (names and addresses supplied); if so, in what detailed way; and if an adjustment in the first State servant's pension can be expected.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Pension Adjustment.
1.
The person who is the subject of the Deputy's query was is a civil servant whose superannuation was granted under the provisions of the Superannuation Acts. Each of the other two persons referred to by the Deputy served with a statutory body established by the Oireachtas and superannuation was awarded in their cases under the provisions of the Transport Act, 1950, and the Coras Iompair Éireann (Members) Superannuation Scheme, 1960 (S.I. No. 139 of 1960) which was laid before each House of the Oireachtas in accordance with Section 2 of the Transport Act, 1959.
As the civil servant has been granted the full superannuation appropriate in his case, the answer to the final part of the Deputy's question is in the negative.
Does the Parliamentary Secretary think it proper that a person who was seconded and voluntarily went to various State boards and State companies should suffer a very heavy reduction in his pension when, in the case of the other two names supplied and which I do not wish to give in public, there was in fact a very nice handout and golden handshake at the end as well as a pension commensurate with the entire period of service? Does the Minister think, in the case of important men, that there should be a very different attitude in the approach for the ordinary civil servant?
As I understand it it is not a question of a difference in approach to different people. Each of the people referred to in the Deputy's question was dealt with under the appropriate legislation in his case and the person referred to in the Deputy's question got everything he was entitled to under the legislation governing his case.
Does the Parliamentary Secretary, notwithstanding what he has told me, not now agree that the machinery operated to the detriment of the person referred to in the question and to the advantage of the other two gentlemen? And would he not think of looking at it with a view to further legislation? Why should this man lose 15 years of his pension?
No. The civil servant in question got everything he was entitled to under the law. It would require special legislation if provision were to be made to do anything more.
It is the Government's job to legislate. He lost ten or 15 years of his pension.
Surely the Deputy is not suggesting that we should bring in legislation to meet every case?
(Interruptions.)
I am suggesting that if there is an injustice done to even the meanest citizen, it is the job of the Government to see that that is rectified and their job to legislate even for one.
It is the job of Dáil Éireann to legislate in these cases, and they have done so. Each of the people referred to by Deputy Donegan has been dealt with correctly under the law.
I have no objection to or criticism of the manner in which the other two gentlemen were dealt with—I want to make that clear—but I have objection to the improper treatment of the third.