asked the Minister for Defence if he will state whether he is aware that the services in the Army Reserve of Reservist Corporal Thomas Dowling, of Ballyduff, County Kerry, No. 63633, were terminated on the 9th March last and that he was informed that his services were no longer required; whether he is aware that Corporal Dowling's services in the Reserve would not normally terminate until the year 1939, and whether he will state for what reason his services have been terminated before the normal date.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Termination of Soldiers' Services.
asked the Minister for Defence if he will state whether he is aware that the services in the Army Reserve of Private Patrick Bohan, Millstreet, County Cork, No. 67324, were terminated on the 9th March last and that he was informed that his services were no longer required; whether he is aware that Mr. Bohan's services would not normally terminate until 1936 and if he will state for what reason his services have been terminated before the normal date.
With the Deputy's permission, I will answer Questions Nos. 9 and 10 together.
Defence Force Regulations lay it down that a Reservist may be discharged for the reason that his services are no longer required. The services of the two Reservists referred to were terminated in accordance with those Regulations.
Is the Minister aware that as late as the 2nd March, 1934, Thomas Dowling was asked to undergo a refresher course for non-commissioned officers, and will the Minister say, if having been asked on the 2nd March to undergo a refresher course, why he is discharged on the 9th March? Will the Minister say that it is a fact that Thomas Dowling was asked on the 2nd March to undergo a refresher course as non-commissioned officer?
I do not know. I will have to look up that.
The Minister is sure that neither Thomas Dowling nor Patrick Bohan are his political supporters. Are we to understand that?
The Deputy appears to know more about it than I do.
Then, are we to understand that members of the Reserve are to be discharged from the Reserve forces without any reason given, good, bad or indifferent?
I refer the Deputy to the Regulations signed by Desmond Fitzgerald, Aire Cosanta, and Earnan de Blaghd, Aire Airgid, setting out the causes for which a Reservist may be discharged.
Will the Minister say for what particular causes these two Reservists were discharged?
They were discharged in accordance with the Regulations which read that their services might be terminated because their services were no longer required.
Why?
Will the Minister say on what principle he is operating that Regulation now, and whether it is intended to discharge all Reservists who are on the Reserve at the present time?
No, it is not. Any Reservist whose services are required will be retained.
Will the Minister say in what particular circumstance the services of a man like Thomas Dowling, who was not normally due to retire until 1939, and the services of a man like Patrick Bohan, whose services would not normally terminate until 1936, are not required at the present moment?
Because they were not required, they were discharged.
They were not required and they were discharged, and the Minister can give no other reason than that they were not his political supporters?
That is not so.
Will the Minister say why they were discharged? Will he give an answer to that question?
Because their services were no longer required.
Will the Minister say, in view of the fact that he is spending £250,000 extra recruiting new volunteers, why it is necessary to dispense with reservists who are in the Army at the present time?
Will the Minister say if this soldier said "Up Dev." would his services be retained?
That explains the whole thing.