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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 4 Jul 1934

Vol. 53 No. 11

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Army Reserve Discharges

asked the Minister for Defence whether he will state the period of service given (a) in the Army, and (b) in the Army Reserve by Mr. Thomas McLoone, Kilclooney, Glenties, No. 6226; his character in the Army, and the date upon which he would normally be due for discharge from the Reserve, and whether he will state if he is aware that Mr. McLoone was discharged from the Reserve on the 2nd May last, and if he will state the reasons for such discharge.

Mr. McLoone had eight years 228 days Army and three years 82 days Reserve service. His character in the Army was assessed as "Very Good." He would normally have been due for discharge on the 9th February, 1937. He was discharged on the 2nd May last for the reason that his services were no longer required.

Will the Minister say whether the reason why Mr. McLoone's services were no longer required was that he did not belong to the Fianna Fáil organisation? Will the Minister say why, when he is spending a considerable amount of money building up a new force, which he declares to be a non-Party force, he is removing men from the Army reserve purely on political grounds?

Dr. Ryan

I think the Minister has power to discharge a man whose services are no longer required.

Is the Minister carrying out his statutory responsibilities in a proper constitutional way when he discharges men from the Army because they belong, perhaps, to a different political Party than his own?

Dr. Ryan

I do not think that is the case at all.

asked the Minister for Defence whether he will state the period of service given in the Officers' Training Corps by Mr. James Allen, University College, Cork, No. 491; his character in the Army; and the date upon which he would normally be due for discharge from the Officers' Training Corps; and whether he will state if he is aware that Mr. Allen was discharged from the Officers' Training Corps on the 19th May; and if he will state the reasons for such discharge.

Dr. Ryan

Mr. Allen served in the Officers' Training Corps from 30th October, 1931, to 19th May, 1934, on which date he was discharged for the reason that his services were no longer required. His character whilst serving was assessed as "Very Good." He would normally have been due for discharge on the 29th October next.

Are we to understand that a student of the University, although he may have given good service in the Officers' Training Corps and be of good character, may now be discharged because he does not belong to the Minister's political Party?

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