I move:

That Seanad Éireann approves of the Garda Síochána Pensions Order, 1972, made on the 8th day of June, 1972, by the Minister for Justice with the sanction of the Minister for-Finance under section 13 of the Police Forces Amalgamation Act, 1925.

I ask the House to approve the Garda Síochána Pensions Order, 1972. The order provides for a minor change in the Garda pensions code. Details of the change are set out in the explanatory memorandum which was circulated with the order.

The order affects only 37 members. These are the only members serving of those who opted to remain on their old pension conditions when the 1951 Garda Pensions Order, providing for payment of lump sums, but with reduced pensions, was made. The terms of the new order have been agreed with the Garda Representative Bodies. It will enable the benefits of the 1951 order to be applied to the members concerned, unless they express a wish otherwise. The effect of this will be that their superannuation entitlement will be changed from a pension equalling, for those with full service, two-thirds of pay to a pension equalling half pay plus a gratuity equalling one and a half times annual pay.

I commend the order for the approval of the House.

On behalf of Fine Gael, we accept this order. The position is that, not only has the order been agreed by the Garda Representative Bodies but the 37 people concerned have not merely acquiesed but requested that this change should be made. The Minister is acting reasonably in meeting the desire expressed by these people.

What Senator O'Higgins states is correct. These people did not exercise their option under the 1951 order and the time had expired. They changed their minds and decided they would be better off it they had exercised it. We have now given them the opportunity of doing that.