asked the Minister for Justice if he will state the reason why ex-Civil Bill Officers, Evans of Arklow, and Norton, Tinahely, Co. Wicklow, have not been paid travelling expenses incurred in attending the Circuit Court at Wicklow on 12th November, 1926.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - EX-CIVIL BILL OFFICERS EXPENSES.
Notice of the Deputy's question was the first intimation I received that there was any cause of complaint in respect of the matter to which it refers, and I regret that the Deputy has thought fit to raise such a matter in this way in the first instance and without any previous communication with me. I cannot but feel that it is a waste of Parliamentary time for a Deputy to put down a question on a trifling matter of this kind without making any effort whatever to ascertain the facts by addressing an enquiry to the responsible department. I am now taking steps to ascertain whether Messrs. Evans and Norton are entitled to any further remuneration, and will communicate my decision to the Deputy when my inquiries are complete.
Does the Minister suggest that it is not within the right of any Deputy to raise a question concerning a grievance of any of his constituents?
I am not speaking so much about a question of right as about a question of advisability. I suggest that it is wasting the time of the Dáil to raise trifling matters of this kind in the first instance by means of a question and without any prior contact with the Department whatsoever.
Is the Minister aware that the men made several applications to the County Registrar and were refused their expenses?
There was no previous communication with my Department.
They communicated with your County Registrar.