andJ. Lynch asked the Minister for Finance whether he is aware that the pensions of Government servants, who have received no increase in the past nine years, have, because of rising prices, lost much of their value, and, if so, whether, in view of the fact that the removal of the consequent long-continued hardships is long overdue, he will expedite the preparation of proposals to increase the pensions of such persons.

Under the statutes governing the superannuation of Government servants generally, pension is calculated on the basis of pay and years of reckonable service on retirement and a pension so calculated is not subject to increase because of rising prices subsequent to retirement. As indicated, however, in my reply to a parliamentary question on 23rd November, 1955—and more recently to certain representative bodies of Service pensioners — I have the matter under consideration in connection with my forthcoming Budget but that does not mean, of course, that I will find it possible to make provision for any pension increases.

Would the Minister bear in mind the statement made by the Tánaiste and the Taoiseach on 30th October, 1947, when they dealt with that matter?

And we subsequently increased the pensions.

I shall also bear in mind that it was the inter-Party Government, by the Act of 1950, subsequent to those statements, that increased those pensions at that time thereby redeeming the promises made by the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste.

It must be awkward asking other people to do what you would not do yourself.

To fulfil your own promises?

Justice requires that it should be done whatever the cost.

There was no justice when you were in, so?

You have been living for 20 years in sin, if that is so.