To ask the President, in view of the fact that a number of small private traders are being served with writs by business firms in England, owing to the fact that their property in O'Connell Street was destroyed during the recent fighting, and, further, in view of the extreme hardship imposed upon such traders by the inability of the Ministry to deal with their cases for compensation at the present moment, if he would consider the advisability of giving such persons the benefit of a moratorium, pending the time when they will be in a position to meet their liabilities, as they are prepared and anxious to do, out of the compensation to which they are entitled.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. - O'CONNELL STREET CLAIMS.
Mr. DARRELL FIGGIS
Special steps to expedite the treatment of compensation cases are being considered, but it does not seem feasible to adopt the suggestion made in the question, that is, as regards a moratorium. A moratorium for a limited class of persons is scarcely a practicable proposition. We would do more harm than good by creating a bad impression in England and abroad were we to consider this suggestion.