asked the Minister for Finance if he will state whether payment is not being made by the Department of Finance in respect of food consumed on the premises of certain claimants by the Irregular forces; whether he will also state how many such cases there are and what is the amount involved, and whether if the amount is not large, he would consider the advisability of re-opening these cases with a view to payment, and whether in this connection he will reconsider the claim of Mr. David Wilson of Raphoe.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - IRREGULARS' FOOD SUPPLIES.
I am advised that claims of this nature are not within the terms of the Damage to Property (Compensation) Act, 1923, and payment has accordingly been refused. With regard to the second part of the question, the number of cases in which amounts recommended by judges have been reduced or refused by my Department because they were partially or wholly in respect of the billeting of Irregulars is 116, and the amount involved £3,000 approximately. I have no information as to the number of such claims dismissed by Circuit Judges, or the amount involved. The answer to the third and fourth parts of the question is in the negative.
Will the Minister say that he has not paid any claims of this nature?
Certainly not that I am aware of, and the policy and decision have been not to pay.
I can prove to the Minister that within a small radius from my own home some of these payments have been made in an adjoining county. Of course it was prior to an election in that county and that might have made a difference.
No.
I have knowledge of three cases in Leitrim in which payments were made within three months of the by-election there. I ask the Minister is it fair or just that fish should be made of one and fowl of another in regard to this matter? Are people being picked out or are counties being picked out for special treatment, or does the Minister say that when a man takes food out of another man's house in his stomach, that does not come within the meaning of the Act, in the same way as if a man plundered a premises and took away goods?
As far as I can remember the Deputy's questions, the answer to the first three or four is in the negative and the answer to the last question is in the affirmative.
Does the Minister allege that Mr. Wilson sent for these fellows to feed them and smash up his house and furniture?
No.