asked the Minister for Defence if he will cause inquiries to be made as to whether the part-time medical officer of Fort Dunree, County Donegal, referred to in a question on the 10th May, 1949, is also Admiralty surgeon and agent for the British Government.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Medical Officer at Fort Dunree.
Part-time medical appointments are made after consideration of the general suitability, professional qualifications, location, etc., of the applicants. It has not been the custom to make inquiries into other honorary or part-time appointments of the applicants and I do not propose to depart from the customary practice in this case.
Am I to take it from the Minister that no inquiry is to be made as to the correctness of the facts suggested by me in the question?
On a previous occasion I informed the Deputy that, from inquiries which had been made, I got no information to indicate that the doctor in question was employed by, or was an agent of, the British Government. I do not propose to make any further inquiries but if the Deputy has any relevant and important information, and if he or any other Deputy conveys it to me, it will be considered.
Will the Minister agree that it is not in the public interest that a gentleman serving in the Defence Forces of this State should be also subject to the control of the British forces occupying portion of our territory?
The gentleman in question was a volunteer member of the Old I.R.A. attached to one of the northern divisions and he had very meritorious service. He was a medical officer in the National Army for a considerable number of years during which time he gave meritorious service. He has been reappointed in a part-time capacity and is giving complete satisfaction. I have no information as to any other employment he may have, none whatsoever, but I have invited the Deputy to give me any information he has. This is the second time I have so invited him.