Vol. 20 No. 16
I move amendment No. 1:—
Section 3. After the word "midwife" in line 42 to insert the words "in Saorstát Eireann."
It is usual for nurses who have been trained in Saorstát Eireann to work afterwards in the Colonies or in America, and, having served there for some years, return to Saorstát Eireann. The amendment is merely to ensure that nurses seeking pensions will have served for 20 years.
I had a consultation with Senator Bigger on this and the other amendments, and as I think they tend to improve the Bill I approve of them.
I move amendment No. 2:—
Section 3. To delete all after the word "aggregate" in line 43 down to the end of the section.
This amendment meets an objection that was raised last week on the Second Stage when a question arose as to whether the Bill would allow pensions to be given immediately after it became an Act. In the original Bill that would not be possible, because nurses and midwives were not registered 20 years ago. The State registration of midwives began in 1919 and consequently it would be some years before nurses could possibly receive pensions. If the Bill were allowed to stand in its present form it would mean that in the intervening years there would be an accumulated fund which would put the Minister in a position to give larger pensions. If the Bill is to come into force, and if its provisions are to be available as soon as possible, it is necessary that this amendment should be carried.
I move amendment No. 3:—
Section 4, sub-section (1). To delete in line 46 the word "greater."
The Minister may not be able to give the amount mentioned, £30, or he may later on find that he may be able to increase the amount. The amendment aims at giving the Minister greater latitude in fixing the pension. In the first few years it may not reach £30.
I move amendment No. 4:—
Section 4, sub-section (2). To insert before the sub-section a new sub-section as follows:—
(2) In determining the amount of the pension payable to a nurse or midwife who is qualified to receive a pension under Section 3 of this Act but who has been registered for a period of less than 20 years by the General Nursing Council of Saorstát Eireann or the Central Midwives' Board of Saorstát Eireann (as the case may be), the Minister may have regard to all or any of the following matters, that is to say:—
(a) the number of years for which such registered nurse or midwife has acted as such nurse or midwife subsequent to the date of her registration;
(b) the amount of income yielded by the Nurses' Pensions Fund;
(c) all such other matters as the Minister in his discretion shall think proper.
In a Bill of this kind it would be impossible to deal with all the circumstances and, therefore, I wish the Minister to have a good deal of latitude.
