asked the Minister for Defence whether he will state the reasons for the refusal to award a military service pension to ex-Commandant James Leo Hickey (M.S.P. 3846) who, in addition to service in the National Army, gave outstanding active service in the Carlow Brigade of the Irish Volunteers from 1917, and whether he will reconsider the case with a view to the awarding of a pension.

A pension has not been granted to ex-Commandant Hickey for the reason that he did not establish to the satisfaction of the Board of Assessors that he gave the minimum amount of military service required by sub-section (4) of Section 2 of the Military Service Pensions Act, 1924. The findings of the Board on the available evidence are final and conclusive. His application can be reconsidered only if he furnishes additional evidence in support of it.