asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs whether it has now been agreed that temporary postmen will be granted pensions on retirement.

The grant of pensions to temporary postmen is a matter for the Minister for Finance. I understand however that a claim for the grant of pensions to full-time non-established civil servants, including temporary postmen, is being considered at present at the General Council under the Scheme of Conciliation and Arbitration for the Civil Service.

Does that mean legislation?

Is this not part of a scheme which has been negotiated between a sub-committee of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions and the various Government Departments over the past two years? Apparently the Minister for Finance now wants to claim it as his brainchild and that he has thought it up and will introduce legislation to deal with it. Is it not a fact that people are receiving pensions under the scheme?

I understand that this claim is being considered at present.

The types of people who would be affected by it are perhaps being considered, but in fact the scheme is in existence. It was negotiated over two years ago and now the Minister for Finance says he is going to introduce legislation to set it up, which is entirely incorrect.

The question asked is in connection with temporary postmen and this is still being considered.

We have been trying to do that for the last 40 years and——

In spite of you we succeeded in getting it.

We succeeded.