§ MR. S. YOUNG (Cavan, E.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, with reference to the new rules for the administration of the Irish Teachers' Pension Fund enacted by the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, with the consent of the Treasury, whether an opportunity of considering them will be given to the House for confirmation of same; if he will state on what date these rules will be laid upon the Table of the House; 871 and whether he will have them printed and circulated among hon. Members before any further step is taken regarding them?
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY FOR IRELANDThe Irish Teachers' Pension Rules of 1897 were made under the terms of Section 11 of the Act of 1879, and these rules do not require confirmation by Parliament. The rules, however, have been laid on the Table, not because of any statutory requirements, but for the information of hon. Members. If the teachers desire to bring any question affecting their local rights before a court of law, the Treasury would not interpose any difficulties, and if the view of the law taken by Government proves to have been mistaken, steps will be taken to ensure that those teachers who exercise their option shall not suffer. The great majority of the teachers concerned have exercised their options, though with a protest, I understand, under the new rules.
MR. T. M. HEALY (Louth, S.)As the Government admits there is a legal question involved, will they suspend the further operation of the rule until the matter has been decided? Will they give the teachers a limited time in which to bring their action?
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY FOR IRELANDWe could not suspend the rule. The rule has already the effect of an Act of Parliament.
MR. T. M. HEALYThe right hon. Gentleman can, at any rate, extend the time in which the acceptance may be signed.
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY FOR IRELANDI am afraid that is impossible.
§ MR. DANE (Fermanagh, N.)Has the Chief Secretary taken the opinion of the Irish law officers?
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY FOR IRELANDCertainly.
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY FOR IRELANDI have already explained that I cannot do that.
§ MR. YOUNGI beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will state on what ground Irish National Teachers are required to bear one-fourth of the cost of their pension when no such requirement is provided for in any of the statutes affecting National School Teachers in Ireland?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (Sir M. HICKS BEACH,) Bristol, W.It was the intention of the National School Teachers' (Ireland) Act, 1879, as explained by the then Chief Secretary in the House of Commons on the 12th of August, 1879, that the contribution of the teachers should provide one quarter of the benefits provided under the Act; and the rates of contribution and benefits laid down in the schedule to the Act were based upon that calculation. This is referred to in the Report of the Departmental Committee on the Pension Fund, C. 8, 471, presented to Parliament last May, to which I would refer the hon. Member. It must, of course, be remembered that this Act imposed no permanent financial responsibility whatever upon the Treasury with regard to these pensions.
§ MR. YOUNGI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether, considering his acknowledgment of £1,000,000 as the Government liability to the Irish National Teachers' Pension Fund, he will state if an equivalent sum of £25,000 per year will be given to the Fund; and, if such sum be not given, if he will explain the reasons?
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY FOR IRELANDThe hon. Member probably refers to my answer a few days ago to the Member for East Cork. I stated that there was a deficiency of about £1,000,000, but I did not state, nor do I admit, that there existed any liability on the part of the Government to make the whole of that amount good. As I have already explained, it is calculated that a Government grant of £18,000 a year, supplemented by the action of the new rules, will suffice to make good the deficiency.