asked the President if he will state whether it is the intention of the Government to make any provision by way of pension, compensation, or gratuity in respect of the men of the Connaught Rangers who were convicted in India for their Irish sympathies, and if he will see that the men who have been unable to secure employment since their release from prison are placed on equal terms with the dismissed and resigned R.I.C. men.
CEISTEANNA.—QUESTIONS. [ORAL ANSWERS.] - CONNAUGHT RANGERS CONVICTED IN INDIA.
No statutory authority exists for the payment of pensions, compensation or gratuities to men of the Connaught Rangers who were convicted in India for their Irish sympathies, and the Government has not had the matter under consideration. If the Deputy will supply me with details of any cases of distress amongst these men, I will consider whether any remedial action can be taken.
Mr. BYRNE
Would the Minister also consider that the former Minister for Defence, writing concerning one of those men, stated that the noble action of the Connaught Rangers was of great service to the country?
Yes, I quite admit that, and it was the case of many persons in this country that their action was also very noble in the same circumstances, and the loss perhaps much greater.
Will the President say if the Government has made any effort to try and procure employment for those men?
Yes, that was done from the time they came, and certain regulations were suspended in their cases which would have operated against other persons.