§ 17. Mr. BYRNEasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if, in the contemplated coming legislation for the betterment of the pay and pensions of the Royal Irish constabulary, he intends including for the purposes of pensions all superannuated members of the force up to and including the rank of head constable, who were pensioned under the Act of 1883, and who have received pensions which are both inadequate and unjust as compared with the pensions awarded to the men who joined prior to the month of August, 1866, or to that now granted to men retiring under the Act of 1916, and thus remove an inequality which exists between the pensioned members of a force the claims of whom to public recognition are in every respect equal?
§ Mr. DUKEAs I informed the hon. and gallant Member for the Enfield Division on Monday, the Treasury have sanctioned an addition of 2s. 6d. per week to the existing war bonus of the Royal Irish Constabulary, to take effect from 1st December. Legislation is not necessary to give effect to this decision. The other matters mentioned in the question were dealt with in a written answer to a question by the hon. Member for the College Green Division on the 19th December.