asked the Minister for Finance if he is aware that, in calculating the amount paid to Mr. William F. Dooley, Athy Road, Carlow, under his D.M.P. pension rights, deduction is also made by the Paymaster General's office for emergency bonus granted since 1943, in abating his earnings; and, if so, and in view of the hardship imposed by such deduction, and the fact that, as a result of sympathetic action by him, similar deductions are not made in the case of R.I.C. pensioners, if he will take the necessary steps to secure to Mr. Dooley similar treatment and enable him to benefit from the bonus.

The answer to the first part of the Deputy's question is in the affirmative. As regards the second part, my information is that Mr. Dooley retired from the D.M.P. service in consequence of the change of Government, and is in receipt of Article X compensation. I do not regard the circumstances of persons coming within this category as being comparable with those of the resigned and dismissed R.I.C., and I am not prepared to make any concessions on their behalf.