Oireachtas (Members) Pensions Scheme, 1960: Motion.

Mr. E. Ryan

I move:

That Seanad Éireann hereby approves of the amendment of the Oireachtas (Members) Pensions Scheme, 1960, made under section 6 (A) of the Oireachtas (Allowances to Members) Act, 1938 by

(1) the addition to sub-clause (4) of Clause 5 of the scheme of the following proviso: "Provided that the foregoing provision of this sub-clause shall not apply in relation to any period of service in respect of which the member has paid the appropriate contribution under clause 4 of this Scheme", and

(2) by the deletion of sub-clause (7) of Clause 5 of the Scheme.

Minister for Finance (Mr. J. Lynch)

The purpose of the motion is to apply to the Members' pension scheme the principles set out in the Abatement Act which was recently passed by the Oireachtas and to apply also the principle that if a person subscribes to the superannuation scheme he would be permitted to benefit from his subscriptions. There are certain categories of Ministers who may have already qualified for pensions but must continue to subscribe to the scheme under its terms and who could never get benefit for those subscriptions. I think they are two very clear principles which I believe are acceptable to all Parties.

Mr. D.J. O'Sullivan

We agree with this.

Question put and agreed to.

Seanad Éireann díospóireacht - Thursday, 7 Jul 1966