I wish to ask the President the question of which I have given him private notice.
[WRITTEN REPLIES.] - ORIEL HOUSE EXPLOSION.
According to the Standing Orders the Chairman should receive notice of a question which is to be asked under such circumstances. I have not received a copy of the question, and I am, therefore, not in a position to say whether the question can be asked.
I would like to explain that I handed in this question yesterday, and was advised to pass it on to the President.
If the President is desirous, he may take it up.
The question is:—"To ask the President of the Ministry if he will appoint a special Commission of Inquiry into the smuggling of mines into Oriel House for the purpose of the explosion there on the night of Monday, October 30th, and if in view of similar occurrences before, he will cause such Commission to extend its enquiries into the general question of the discipline of the armed forces of the State?"
Oriel House is under the jurisdiction of the Minister for Home Affairs, and so, I think, the Minister for Home Affairs would be best qualified to answer the question. As regards the question of a Commission, I do not know that any useful purpose is served by appointing a Commission on a matter of that sort. It is a military question, and one would have to employ military to deal with it. I presume that a question of that kind will be dealt with by the Minister himself.
There were no mines smuggled into Oriel House. A reconstruction of this particular crime seems to be that a grating in the footpath was prised up and planks were put down at an angle, and the mines were slid down the planks. Only one of four mines exploded. If the four mines had exploded it is safe to say there would have been very considerable damage to property and immense loss of life in that area. We are satisfied that it is not an occasion for a Commission or Committee of any kind, and that the official resources at the disposal of the Government are sufficient to deal with the matter. I have reports from Oriel House and the D.M.P. and the military, which I think it is unnecessary to read to the House, but which I could send to the Deputy if he so desires.