Yesterday, I asked a question concerning the proposals or scheme which the Government intend to operate as to the demobilisation of the Army. The Minister, in his reply, said that proposals were under active consideration, but that he was not in a position at the moment to announce the terms of the scheme. I do not want to embarrass the Minister in any way or to stampede him into announcing, prematurely, proposals before they have been given full and careful consideration, but I have had considerable contact with soldiers, both officers and men. Practically every week, and sometimes more frequently, one meets a private soldier, a non-commissioned officer or an officer, and if you are talking to him for any length of time, he will invariably say: "What are you going to do about the Army? What proposals have the Government for resettling us in life, or what provisions will they make to enable us to get back into business or to get a start on our own, or to replace us in the jobs in which we were previous to joining the Army?" As a result, Deputies are in the awkward position that they have to say: "I am afraid I do not know". So far, the Government have given no indication, with the exception of a rather scare speech by the Taoiseach in Clare last August. Since then, nothing further has been heard, and as to whether the proposals which were outlined then are to be operated or not, the Army, this House and the public are without any information upon it.
I should like to impress upon the Minister that, whether the war lasts long or short, it is five years shorter than it originally was and that those people, in June next, will be five years older. They will be five years away from civilian employment, in the case of those who were previously employed; and in the case of those who joined the Army, after having left school or who had just started apprenticeship to a trade or profession, there has been a serious interruption in their lives. That interruption occurred at a time when, in the ordinary course of events, they would be learning a trade or acquiring knowledge of a profession, passing examinations, and so on. The position is that all these men are now five years older, and I am sure it will be realised that an apprentice of 18 years of age is far more adaptable than a man of 23 or 24, who has lost contact with study or has not the same inclination which he previously had for acquiring knowledge of either a trade or profession. Coupled with that, a large number of these men have since got married, on the strength of Army promotion and the pay they received. A double problem arises there. Not only is the man faced with the necessity of maintaining himself, but with the necessity of maintaining a wife, and, possibly, children. That man is faced with demobilisation sooner or later, and a return to civilian life.
I am quite sure that the Government do not propose to terminate suddenly the services of the members of the Defence Forces, but I should like the Minister and the Government to realise that all these men are living under perpetual anxiety, smaller or greater according to the amount of responsibility which each man has. I am quite sure that Deputies and the Minister have frequent contact with men who either are anxious to get back to civilian life or to have an opportunity of securing civilian employment, and their whole anxiety is to be transferred as quickly as possible to the reserve in order that they may have an opportunity of fitting themselves in, because they feel that if they are not in a position to avail of such an opportunity, somebody else will.
I think the House will realise that the people of this country owe a debt of gratitude, which cannot be repaid merely in words or fine sentiments expressed at public Party meetings or at Army demonstrations, to the men who, five years ago, when this country considered that its independence might be violated, came forward to the defence of the country. These men were recruited, the youth of the country made a magnificent response and, having made that response, while they do not expect to be pensioned or to be maintained by the State free of some contribution, nevertheless they feel that this serious interruption in their lives entitles them to the real gratitude of the people, and to the gratitude of the people in a real way.
When I say a real way, I mean that adequate notice will be given that the Government propose to demobilise them or that the Government propose to demobilise a certain number of them; and, secondly, I mean that employers will be required, where necessary, by legislation or by force, to reinstate all employees who formerly held civilian employment. Along with seeing that those who formerly held civilian employment shall be reinstated, I think that the least the country might do, and the least the members of this House should endeavour to secure for the soldiers, is to see that those who have suffered this serious interruption in their lives shall have some monetary assistance, some financial aid, to help them to reinstate themselves or set themselves up in business, or at any rate to enable them to tide over a period which would probably be a drain on their finances while they resettle themselves in civilian life.
I do not want to compare the gratuities or allowances which were recently announced in Great Britain for the members of the Defence Forces there with the position here. In Great Britain they have a far bigger problem and far bigger resources. Every individual there in one capacity or another has contributed to the machine, just as the people of other belligerent countries, in their own way, have had to make their contribution, and I presume they will make whatever plans they can to resettle themselves in civilian life. While we were not actually in this war, we were faced with a serious threat, a threat which convinced every citizen and every family that it was possible, but for wholehearted determination, the voluntary enlistment in the Defence Forces, including the L.D.F., that we might be actually involved in it. It is time that the Government declared its policy, and gave an assurance to members of the Defence Forces that it intends to ensure that they will be adequately provided for; that there will be a plan and that individuals will be given sufficient financial aid; and that where necessary those whose careers either as tradesmen or as professional men were interrupted, will be assisted financially, either by training or with equipment and lectures, so that they will be able to resume their careers, and that, in the meantime, provision will be made so that they and their families will not suffer unduly.
