In reply to a question of mine this afternoon I was told, on behalf of the Minister for Defence, in relation to Corporal Samuel Gallowey, that he was 49 years of age, that he had served for 24 years and 259 days in the Army, that he had been discharged on the 30th January this year after a quarter of a century's service, that his record during his time in the Army was very good, that he had been employed as a barrack policeman immediately before the date of his discharge and that although he was desirous of remaining on in the Army he could not be kept on, as no suitable appointment existed, under the peace-time establishment, in which Corporal Gallowey could be employed; that his pension was likely to be 17/6 a week, but that the Army had not yet gone through whatever process was necessary to make that pension available; that when he was serving as a soldier he occupied married quarters, and that the cost of rent, light and water of these married quarters was 5/2½ a week; that no moneys had been with-held from him since 30th January, 1947, but that, on the other hand, no moneys had been paid and, if he continued to occupy married quarters when money was available to him—that is, when the Army authorities had made up their minds what his pension would be—that in respect of the house that was valued at 5/2½ a week when he was in the Army they proposed to charge him 2/- a day, plus 2/2½ for light and water. That was what they were going to deduct, out of 17/6 a week, 16/2½ a week for the house that was valued at 5/2½ before.
We were talking a day or two ago— at least the Taoiseach was—about appointing a joint committee of the Dáil and Seanad to consider the privileges of both Houses and what steps, if necessary, could be taken against criticism from outside or subversive influence or attacks, whether from persons or the Press, that would undermine institutions of State. Here we have what would be called a Northern Nationalist, a young man who, from the year 1916, served in the Volunteers, joined the National Army when it was founded, served in the National Army ever since, continued beyond his normal service because there was an emergency and he wanted to serve, wanted to continue further on but would not be allowed. He has given a quarter of a century's good service in which, for not one hour, was he ever absent from duty, for not one hour was he ever, for any offence even of the smallest kind, detained by way of punishment.
He was discharged with a good character. Now he finds himself pushed out of the Army into a situation in which 76,000 men are looking for employment. There is an attempt to push him out of the house he occupied for many years into a situation in Dublin where nobody can get a house of any particular kind. The Minister informed us he was setting up a committee at General Headquarters, Parkgate Street, to deal with soldiers' difficulties. This man has made two visits to General Headquarters, Parkgate Street, to be told they are trying to get employment for him. This man wanted to stay on in the Army. He has had a quarter of a century's experience and has a good character. He is a comparatively young man, under 50 years of age, and the Army at the present moment, according to the Minister for Defence, want 3,243 more men as non-commissioned officers and men.
The Estimates that have been presented to us show that the Minister wants—and he explained that he wants them very badly—10,973 non-commissioned officers and men in the Army. He had 7,567 on the 1st of this month and he was short 3,406 non-commissioned officers and men. In September last the Minister set out on a campaign for recruits. He then wanted 5,363 additional recruits. He has got only 2,120, leaving him with a deficiency of 3,243. He got 2,120 accepable recruits; there were 4,600 offering their services, the majority of whom he refused to accept.
Here we have an Army that ought to be standing still, waiting to see what kind of new world we will have that will indicate what type of army we ought to have. This man to whom I am referring is a man with a good record; he is perfectly healthy, perfectly sound; he is disciplined and experienced and still he cannot be kept at work.
