asked the Minister for Defence if he will allow parcels of food to be sent in to prisoners detained under the Constitution (Amendment No. 17) Act, 1931, in Arbour Hill Barracks in accordance with the practice which obtained when prisoners were interned under military law and is the practice in civil cases where prisoners detained have not yet come up for trial.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Military Tribunal Prisoners.
The answer is in the negative.
Is the Minister aware that a good rule of law in reference to all prisoners is that they are innocent until they are proved guilty, and that until they are proved guilty they should be treated as innocent?
That only prevails in Russia.
Are prisoners to be presumed innocent until proved guilty —is that a rule of law?
That is so.
Then will the Minister change the practice in these barracks so as to bring it more completely round to the principle of the law?
No.
The law and the Constitution are both gone.
asked the Minister for defence whether he is aware that the heating arrangements in Arbour Hill Barracks are very deficient, and that the prisoners detained under the Constitution (Amendment No. 17) Act, 1931, are suffering severely from the cold, and what he proposes to do in the matter.
The Deputy has been misinformed.
Is that the answer to my question?
Yes.
May I ask the Minister what is the condition of the heating arrangements in the Arbour Hill Barracks?
It is hot.
Has the Minister made close inspection into this since the question was put down?
I was a prisoner in the barracks myself and I know it well.
A Deputy
There has been a considerable change in the place since then.
They were the good old times.
The heating arrangements are as good now as they were then.
They were not very good then. I was a prisoner there myself.
We were all martyrs then.
asked the Minister for Defence if he will state what are the names of the doctor or doctors and chaplain or chaplains appointed to attend the prisoners detained under the Constitution (Amendment No. 17) Act, 1931, in Arbour Hill Barracks.
The Deputy may rest assured that the medical and religious interests of the prisoners are being adequately provided for.
But is there any reason on earth why the Minister should not tell us who the doctors and chaplains are?
I do not propose to give any names.
The Minister is very haughty.