asked the Minister for Justice if he will state in respect of the past ten years the total number of members of the Garda Síochána of single marital status who retired.
117.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Garda Retirements and Widows' Pensions.
116.
asked the Minister for Justice the total number of widows of gardaí in receipt of the Garda widow's pension on 1st July, 1971.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 116 and 117 together.
The total number of single members who retired from the force in the past ten years was 147.
The total number of widows in receipt of Garda widows' pensions on 1st July, 1971 was 2,032.
Would the Minister not agree that to include a maximum number of 147, a maximum theoretical figure, of women who married members of the gardaí after their retirement would not be a great burden on the finances of the Garda Pension Fund and would he not agree to include them?
I have no evidence that the 147 single members did get married after retiring. I think the Deputy is under a misapprehension if he thinks the gardaí are in any special position in this respect because the pension rights of widows of public servants generally are set out for the whole of the public service. The gardaí are in the same position and are not now any better or worse off than the public service generally. It is entirely a matter for the Minister for Finance to determine the pension rights of widows of persons who marry after leaving the public service. A special case cannot be made for the gardaí; the whole thing stands or falls in toto.
Taking the figures the Minister gave, if these figures were applicable to all sections of the public service it would indicate that less than .5 per cent, the maximum number of widows who were married following the retirement of either a member of the gardaí or the Civil Service——
The Deputy is making an argument. The question relates to the total number.
I am asking the Minister if he would investigate and make representations to the Minister for Finance——
We cannot have an argument on a question.
This is a matter which the Deputy should take up with the Minister for Finance who determines these matters.