asked the Minister for Justice if he will expedite payment of the claims of £24 for cattle seized, the property of James Malynn, Mullagheloe, Ballymore, Co. Westmeath; also, £34 for cattle seized, the property of James McGrath, Mullagheloe, Ballymore, Westmeath, and £33 for cattle seized, the property of Michael Brown, Dalystown, Moyvore, Co. Westmeath, and £14 for cattle seized, the property of Francis Glennon, Toughstown, Ballinae, Mullingar, in view of the fact that these persons are very badly in need of the money.
CEISTEANNA.—QUESTIONS. [ORAL ANSWERS.] - CLAIMS FOR CATTLE SEIZED.
Ex-gratia grants will be made at an early date to James Malynn, James McGrath, Francis Glennon, and Michael Brown in respect of cattle seized for illegal trespass.
I may add that the amount of the said grants will be considerably less than the amount named in the Deputy's question.
asked the Minister for Justice if he will expedite payment of the claims of £40 of John Fagan, Toarlismore, Kilbeggan, of £20 of Joseph Keegan, Derryroe, Ballinagore, and £15 of Joseph Gormley, Glengorgan, Kilbeggan, for cattle seized by military on June 12th, 1923.
Mr. O'HIGGINS
Ex-gratia grants will be made at an early date to John Fagan, Joseph Keegan, and Joseph Gormley in respect of their cattle seized for illegal trespass. The amounts of the said grants will be considerably less than the amounts named in the Deputy's question.
Are we to understand from the Minister's answer that, where cattle have been seized and money paid for their release subsequently, the Minister will give an ex gratia payment to the owner of those cattle?
Mr. O'HIGGINS
No. These two cases were seizures by the military prior to the Public Safety Act. In the case of seizures made prior to the Public Safety Act and without statutory authority — simply made by the military — I have examined into them, and a fund which is the proceeds of sales of cattle seized in that way and which is available will be distributed roughly in accordance with such merits as we can find in the various cases.