asked the Minister for Defence whether the claims of members of the I.R.A. for compensation as a result of injuries received prior to the truce in the struggle between England and this country are receiving consideration; whether he can state when settlement of such claims will be made?
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - PRE-TRUCE CLAIMS.
The claims in question are of two kinds:—(1) Those arising out of injuries received in the course of duty on active service. They are being dealt with under the provisions of the Army Pensions Act, 1923. It is hoped to commence payments at an early date; and (2) those occasioned by injuries inflicted maliciously. The Minister for Finance is considering these claims, and has already paid many of them.
Has the Minister for Defence acknowledged all the claims sent in? I am aware all claims have not been acknowledged. What I want to know is, whether the Minister received claims from any one of those disabled or injured soldiers of the old I.R.A. who suffered injury or disablement prior to the Truce, owing to their activities against the British Government Forces in this country? And I want to know whether he has at any time acknowledged the receipt of such claims?
I have personally acknowledged many of those claims. As far as the systematic acknowledgment of the claims that have been submitted subsequent to the publication of the notice that claims would be now received in connection with the Army Pensions Act of 1923, I presume each form received would be acknowledged, but I will make inquiries with regard to that. With regard to-the second part of the question, I think that does not arise.