I take it that whatever moneys are voted under this resolution will be paid over to the Minister for Defence, and I do not think that he is a fit and proper person to handle any moneys. He has often given us lectures on public morality, spirituality and other things. I am sure he is a proper person to do that, but I do not think he is a fit and proper person to handle money because he was out no less than £200,000 in his estimate of what the Army was going to cost this year. On February 20th, when speaking on the Supplementary Estimate for the Army, I said that the sum of £1,600,000 had been estimated, apart from service and wound pensions, as quite sufficient to spend on the Army. The Minister for Defence, as reported in column 665 of the Official Report, said: "Deputy Aiken, in his usual uninformed way, was, roughly, £200,000 out in his figures." Again he said: "I think the Deputy said that, independent of Army pensions, the expenditure on the Army was £1,600,000 roughly. His roughness was only £200,000 out." If the Minister reads the Estimate for the Army he will find that the Army has been estimated to cost £1,577,000 roughly. That is almost £1,600,000. When I said that the other night the Minister denied it and said I was £200,000 out. Surely to goodness such a man should not be left in control of any finances and should not have the handling of any funds. If he is going to get any money under this resolution, I hope the Dáil will not give the money.
