asked the Minister for Transport and Power whether he will consider sympathetically the payment of more generous pension allowances to former CIE workers.

29.

asked the Minister for Transport and Power whether any alleviation in the position of CIE pensioners who retired before 1963 is contemplated by the Department.

With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 28 and 29 together.

I received a deputation last week from CIE pensioners who retired before April, 1963, and I am having their case examined sympathetically.

Arising from what the Minister has said can he give the House any further indication of his sympathy than that he is considering the matter? The Minister is aware that his predecessor was considering the matter sympathetically also for some years and nothing was done.

I met a very comprehensive deputation of both country and city pensioners, discussed the whole problem in detail and I promised to meet them again in about six weeks time in case anything further emerges.

Does the Minister think that in six weeks time he will be able to give the pensioners a concrete instalment of his sympathy?

I cannot give any guarantees. The point is that I have met everybody concerned, told them that I was investigating the matter in detail and that I would see them in six weeks time to tell them the result of my investigation.

The Minister appreciates that the pensioners have been surviving on a diet of ministerial sympathy for too long now and it is time they got some——

Now, smart-alec remarks will not do any good.

This is not a smart-alec remark.

The Minister is one person who should know something about smart-alec remarks anyway.

If Deputy Sweetman would keep his mouth shut I want to ask a supplementary question.

Deputy Sweetman will keep his mouth open as long as he wants to.

Yes, I know, and make plenty of noise too. I want to ask the Minister why the Government are not consistent in this matter. The public service has been fixed up since 1964. Why do the poor old CIE workers who have, I understand, some of the poorest pensions in the country, have to wait so long.

This is precisely why I met them last week. I met a very comprehensive and full deputation and heard their case in detail. I am aware of the pre-1963 pensioners' problem. I am to meet them again in six weeks time and I will meet them and I would leave it at that now.