asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will give the name and date of appointment of each member of the outgoing Dundrum Old Age Pensions Sub-Committee: how many meetings of this sub-committee were held during its term of office, and the attendance of each member; who is responsible for notifying members of meetings; and if each member is entitled to receive such notification.

Responsibility for the appointment of members of old age pension sub-committees rests with the parent local pension committee in each case, and my Department is not notified, nor has it any details, of these appointments; neither has it any details of the numbers of meetings held by sub-committees or attendances at such meetings. Arrangements for the holding of meetings of sub-committees, and for notifying members of meetings, are a matter for determination by each sub-committee, subject to any provisions which the parent local committee may make in this regard.

Would the Parliamentary Secretary say whether it is a fact that certain people, duly appointed to this sub-committee, were not, in fact, notified of the meetings during the years?

The pensions sub-committees are independent of the Department in their activities relating to appointment of members and arrangements for the holding and conduct of the meetings. My Department has no information on the point which has been raised.

Surely it is a great irregularity if a secretary does not carry out his duty of notifying every member of meetings so that each member will be able to attend the meetings and do his duty?

To my mind, those committees are irregular and serve no purpose.

Is that not an awful pity?

With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I should like to raise this question on the Adjournment. I am not at all satisfied.

I shall communicate with the Deputy.