asked the Minister for Finance if, before reducing the Old Age Pension allowance, he will appoint a Committee to consider the matter; whether the advantages to be gained by the reduction are not outweighed by the great hardship it will inflict on thousands of the deserving pensioners in the Free State.
CEISTEANNA.—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - OLD AGE PENSIONS.
There is no occasion for having a Committee on this subject as the Government already have access to sufficient sources of information. The question involved is one of policy. It is a matter of imperative necessity to effect a substantial economy, but the Government in considering the draft of the Bill that will be required in this matter will have due regard to all proper representations calculated to be of assistance to the pensioners without prejudicing the efforts of the Government to find in this Service a fair contribution to the total saving of about four millions which the Public Services as a whole must provide.