asked the Minister for Lands if he will give the names of the members of the Old I.R.A. from New Inn Company, County Galway, who got land from the Irish Land Commission in the Ashtown Phillips and Bleheins estates, County Galway; if he will state from whom the references were got and if any inquiries were made locally to determine if applicants were genuine members of the Irish. Republican Army.
Ceisteanna.—Questions. Oral Answers. - Division of Galway Estate.
I am not prepared to supply information as to individual allottees on the lines requested by the Deputy. Land is not given to applicants merely because of I.R.A. service; they must first have the necessary qualifications ordinarily looked for, and then, within the various classes of ex-employees, congests, migrants, and so on, national service entitles a man to special consideration. The lands allotted on the estates mentioned by the Deputy were given out eight and ten years ago and I have no intention whatever of holding a post-mortem.