asked the Minister for Defence whether he is aware that a strike of farm and creamery workers has existed at Kilmanagh and Ballyline, Co. Kilkenny, and that one of the employers whose men are on strike is Lieutenant William Ryan, of Kilmanagh, a shopkeeper and farmer of that district, who is now stationed in Kilkenny Barracks; and further, whether he is aware that on Thursday, May 17th, four half-barrels of porter were conveyed from the brewery in Kilkenny to the barracks, and from the barracks to Lieutenant Ryan's shop in Kilmanagh in a lorry occupied by a number of soldiers, who were employed in assisting to unload the porter at the business establishment of Lieutenant Ryan; and, if so, will he state whether this was done under his authority.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. [ORAL ANSWERS.] - KILKENNY OFFICER AND WORKERS' STRIKE.
I am aware that Lieut. William Ryan, of Kilkenny Military Barracks, is one of the employers concerned in the strike, and I am assured that soldiers did not handle the consignment of porter referred to. The facts are that on the 17th instant a lorry, the property of the Kilmanagh Co-operative Society, delivered a load of butter at Kilkenny Railway Station, and on its return journey, as usual, carried goods for Kilmanagh traders. Some bedding was also loaded on the lorry at Kilkenny Military Barracks for Kilmanagh military post, and Messrs. Smithwicks were asked by Lieut. Ryan, in his capacity as trader at Kilmanagh, to have four half-barrels of ale ready for the lorry when it would call at the brewery. As it appeared that the brewery would be closed by the time the lorry would reach it, the company sent the ale to the lorry in the barracks. Two civilians who were on the lorry did the loading and unloading.
Does the Minister consider that it is proper that a military officer should carry on his duty as a shopkeeper at the same time side by side, and is he aware that this officer is to be seen frequently milking his cows, in full uniform?
We have had to take into the Army the service of many people, and it would be unreasonable to ask a man who joined the Army and has business interests to relinquish these interests.