asked the Minister for Defence whether he is aware that there are many cases in which orphan children of deceased soldiers of the National Army are being provided for by the funds of the Irish White Cross; and whether he can state how many ex-National soldiers are at present in Switzerland undergoing sanatoria benefit at the expense of the Irish White Cross Society.
CEISTEANNA.—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - EX-NATIONAL SOLDIERS' DEPENDENTS.
I regret that the information is not in the possession of my Department and I am unable therefore to answer the Deputy's question.
Mr. BYRNE
Will the Minister make inquiries and try and secure the information?
I do not know how I could secure the information unless by applying to the White Cross Society, and I think the Deputy would be in as good a position as I am to get the information there.
Mr. BYRNE
The Minister has a big staff and it is a matter which the Government should know—the number of tubercular cases being helped by outside bodies. The reason I wish to get the information is that I intend in debate later on to ask the Minister to take over the responsibility for all tubercular cases amongst members of the National Army.
The question does not refer to members of the National Army, but to ex-members of the National Army.
Mr. BYRNE
That is exactly what I want to get at. I think the Minister ought to give me more satisfaction and say that he will apply for this information.
Is the Deputy asking a supplementary question?
Mr. BYRNE
Yes, I am pressing home the point and asking the Minister if he will take steps to get the information, as it is information that should be in the possession of his Department.
Does not the Minister think that if he introduces the Army Pensions (Amendment) Bill he would find out the number of men suffering from tuberculosis?
I dare say we will find them out when that Bill is introduced.
In the event of such persons being, in any numbers, at present paid for by the Irish White Cross or any other society does the Minister not consider it should be the responsibility of his Department eventually to take over these cases from such societies?
I cannot anticipate what the Dáil will do when the Bill is introduced.
Does the Minister consider that an ex-member of the National Army living abroad is not entitled to some consideration as an ex-member of the National Army at home?
I do not think the question arises, because there is no differentiation made between ex-National soldiers abroad or at home. When the Bill is introduced, if it takes in the persons referred to in the question, they will receive treatment, but at present I have no power to extend any treatment to these ex-members of the National Army.