asked the Taoiseach if there is any intention on the part of the Government to abolish or alter the status of the St. John Ambulance Brigade, and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna.—Questions. Oral Answers. - St. John Ambulance Brigade.
The position is this: The St. John Ambulance Brigade here is formally, by its constitution, a section and an integral part of the British St. John Ambulance Brigade, and subject to the control of the Chief Commissioner in London. It is linked up with the British Red Cross Society through a joint committee which has functioned in England since 1914, and is the body through which the necessary contact with the Government and the armed forces of that country is effected.
The position of the brigade here is due to the fact that it was organised and established within the last century when this country was governed from London. That position is now quite anomalous under the present conditions and particularly since the establishment of our own Red Cross Society. I think it desirable to remove the anomalies and put the brigade on a basis formally correct both in regard to the State and in regard to the Irish Red Cross.
For this reason, a few weeks ago, I asked the two chief officers of the brigade to come to see me. I found that they recognised the anomalous position of the brigade here just as clearly as I did, and fully understood the position: so I suggested that they should go back to their people and try to find a solution themselves, and take up with the Red Cross authorities the working out of some form of relationship which would save the Government and the military authorities in time of crisis from having to deal with and coordinate the activities of two completely separate organisations working in the same field.
This they promised to do. I said that I felt confident that the Red Cross authorities would on their side understand the position of the brigade and would go to meet them as far as possible. I promised, on my part, that if at any stage I could be of assistance in bringing about a satisfactory arrangement they could count upon me.
It must, therefore, be clear that there is no question of the abolition or the disbandment of the brigade. It consists of a body of well disciplined and highly trained, devoted citizens who have for many years given excellent service to the community in rendering first aid to the sick and injured. On more than one occasion the Government and Ministers have expressed their appreciation of the work which the brigade has done and is doing and we are very far from wishing to see that good work interrupted or brought to an end. The statements which were made here on the matter on Friday last were as ill-founded as they were harmful.
Is the St. John Ambulance Brigade free to disregard the suggestions of the Taoiseach and carry on as formerly?
What are the suggestions of the Taoiseach? They are that they should go back to the brigade and have it put formally on a correct basis both in regard to the State and with regard to the Irish Red Cross Society. Surely the brigade is able to manage its own business, then, without other people interfering when they are considering the position.
The suggestions are an ultimatum.
The brigade does not think so. There has not been any suggestion from the brigade that they have thought so. Who authorised the Deputy to speak on behalf of the brigade?