Colonel NEWMANasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he will say if 70 or 80 constables now serving in the Royal Irish Constabulary, who rejoined at the request of the Government during the period of the War, will be eligible for an increase in their present pensions when the authorities are able to dispense with their services?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONAbout three years ago sixty-seven constabulary pensioners were employed as special constables in certain districts in Ireland, but their engagement was purely a temporary one, subject to termination at. a week's notice, and gave no claim to additional pension. Only twenty-two of these men now remain, the others having given up their positions or having been dispensed with. There is no legal power to grant them any additional pension in respect of their services as special constables after retirement.