asked the Minister for Finance if he will introduce proposals for legislation to permit of the return of the election deposits of the Teachtaí Dála who were returned at the June Election, 1927, but did not take their seats.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Election Deposits of Abstentionist T.D's.
It is not proposed to introduce legislation of the nature suggested in the question.
Is the Minister aware that in June, 1927, six Republican T.D's were elected to this House and that they did not take their seats because they would not take the Oath to the British King? Does the Minister conscientiously believe that it is morally or justifiably right to withhold from these six people their £100 deposit which the Government has withheld for the last five years? Does the Minister not think that it is time to bring in legislation to remove this drastic Coercion Bill from the Statute Book?
Would the Minister agree that this was undoubtedly a penal enactment—I mean this enactment by which this money has been retained—and will he agree that when we got rid of the Oath we should get rid of that also?
I would like to know from the Minister to what is he devoting this £600?
Are we to understand that the Centre Party in the Dáil now believes in the abolition of the Oath?
Those six people never took the Oath—Deputy Corry did.