asked the Minister for Finance if he will state whether dollars were allocated towards the expenses of the Army jumping team during their visit to America, while an allocation was recently refused to a surgeon, a citizen of the republic, who, having obtained by examination the Fellowship of the American College of Surgeons, was anxious to attend in America for the ceremony of the conferring of degrees; and, if so, whether he will state the reasons for the discrimination.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Refusal of Dollar Allocation.
In accordance with normal practice, an allocation of dollars has been made towards the incidental expenses of the members of the Army jumping team during their current visit to America. The Deputy's question does not indicate the surgeon he has in mind, but I am aware that a surgeon who has been awarded a Fellowship of the American College of Surgeons submitted an application last month for dollar exchange to attend the conferring ceremony in the United States of America, as well as a medical congress there. After discussion with an officer of my Department, the surgeon withdrew his application, and I understand that he proposes to submit a revised application later on. It is not, therefore, correct to say that the surgeon was refused an allocation of dollars and, consequently, the latter part of the Deputy's question does not arise.
Was that withdrawal not due to the fact that the officer had refused?
The surgeon—if it be the same person we are discussing——
There is only the one case.
——applied on the very day on which he proposed to travel and he agreed that the congress would be over before he reached America. He then inquired whether next year, when a similar congress is to be held, he would be allowed to travel, and he was told that, so far as the regulations went, it seemed likely that permission would be given to him. He then agreed that he could take his degree next year and he is to submit a revised application. I think the surgeon is quite satisfied, but, if the Deputy will consult me about the matter, I will go into all the details with him.