asked the Minister for the Public Service if he is in a position to state why the former members of Oireachtas Éireann did not receive the increase in pension parity which was due to them.

I have decided to seek the approval of the Houses of the Oireachtas to the grant of pension parity to pensioners under the members pensions scheme with effect from 1st October, 1973, subject to certain conditions and a draft resolution to that effect is being prepared. Representations have also been made to me by a sub-committee of the Committee on Procedure and Privileges about further improvements in this scheme, and these are under consideration. As it would be preferable to include any changes in the scheme in one resolution, I propose to defer introducing the amendment dealing with pension parity until a decision has been reached on the other suggested improvements. I hope to bring this matter before the House at an early date.