asked the Minister for Defence whether he is in a position to state when the Committee of Inquiry to consider the claims of the ex-Connaught Rangers who took part in the mutiny in India in 1916 will be set up; how the Committee will be constituted, and the terms of reference furnished to it.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Ex-Connaught Rangers' Claims.
A Committee of Inquiry has already been set up consisting of a representative of the Department of Defence as Chairman, two members representing the Departments of Finance and Justice, and an official of the Department of Defence as Secretary.
The terms of reference of the Committee are as follows:—
To ascertain the nature and extent of the claims from—
(a) ex-members of the Connaught Rangers who participated in the mutiny in India in 1920, with particular reference as to whether the military service of the claimant was on a pensionable basis or a short service basis; and as to the number who also claim for disablement from wound or injury, or from disease attributable to imprisonment;
(b) widows and children of ex-members of Connaught Rangers whose death is claimed to have been due to
(i) execution;
(ii) wound or injury sustained in the mutiny; or
(iii) disease attributable to imprisonment consequent on the mutiny.
The Committee will ascertain the required information in all cases from the applicants personally, and, in the first instance, by means of advertisement, and by reference to any Government Department of the Saorstát, or to any other reliable source.
The Committee, having considered the particulars thus made available, and having verified the claims, will make recommendations to the Minister for Defence as to reasonable compensation, whether by way of pension, allowance, or gratuity, or by offer of suitable public employment and will, if their recommendations involve legislative action, submit draft outlines of a suitable scheme.
Am I to understand that no compensation can be granted to these men without special legislation being passed?
Well, that will be considered when the Committee of Inquiry reports.
Have the Government at present any power to give compensation?
I do not think so. A Supplementary Estimate in the Dáil would give them the power.
Will attention be given to the point whether the men who entered the British service and mutinied are any more entitled to a pension than the men who refrained from entering the service at all?
Well, these are better than the men who entered the British service to fight against this country and its interests.