asked the Minister for Finance if he is aware that the claim for compensation of Mr. Edward Stewart, Caherhurley, Bodyke, Co. Clare, in respect of injuries stated to have been sustained by his son, Peter, at the hands of the British forces in December, 1920, has been disallowed by the Compensation (Personal Injuries) Committee, and if he is now in a position to state the nature of the considerations which led the Commission to this decision.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - DISALLOWED CLARE CLAIM.
The application of the person named by the Deputy that compensation should be paid to him in respect of injuries received by his son, Peter, was carefully considered by the Compensation (Personal Injuries) Committee. Peter Stewart is a patient in a Mental Hospital, and as the evidence before the Committee showed that his recovery is improbable it was necessary for them, in considering the application of his father, to have regard, in accordance with their terms of reference, to the extent of the dependency of the applicant upon his son. Having reviewed the facts of the case in this light, the Committee were satisfied that there was no dependency on the part of the applicant upon the injured man, and, in the circumstances, they decided, and I agree, that they could not make a recommendation for the payment of compensation.
Is the Minister aware that his committal to the asylum was due to the treatment he received?
Quite.
Mr. HOGAN
Will the Minister say why he considers that there is no dependency—that the father has received no injury—seeing that as a result of the bad treatment this young man received he has to be committed to an asylum and that his father is responsible for his maintenance there?
There is no dependency by the father on him.