asked the Minister for Defence if he will state under what circumstances Mr. Patrick Dalton, formerly a civilian labourer in the service of his Department, was recently dismissed from his employment at Clancy Barracks, Dublin, and if he will consider the institution of an inquiry into the circumstances under which this Old I.R.A. man was summarily deprived of his means of livelihood.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dismissal of Old I.R.A. Man.
Mr. Dalton was dismissed from his employment for refusing to obey the orders of his superior officer. I authorised his dismissal only after full and careful consideration of all aspects of the case and accordingly I am not prepared to institute an inquiry into the circumstances in which his employment was terminated.
Is the Minister aware that one of the grounds of complaint by Mr. Dalton is that abusive language was used to him by an officer with no direct authority over him; that it was purported to discipline him similarly by an officer who had no direct responsibility for him? Is the Minister aware that an investigation of the case will show that Mr. Dalton never on any occasion refused to carry out any lawful order given to him?
I am not aware of the correctness of the statements made by the Deputy, but I will give the Deputy the facts of which I am aware. Mr. Dalton was employed in the base work attached to Supply and Transport. He was instructed by his superior officer to clean a station wagon. The station wagon was inspected after this instruction had been given and on the following day. The station wagon was found to be dirty and not properly cleaned. A recommendation had been made, in view of the fact that it was not properly cleaned, that Dalton should be dealt with. The higher officer then called on Dalton and instructed him to clean up the wagon properly. He was left to do the job, and when the wagon was inspected subsequent to that it was found that the particular portion of the wagon to which his attention had been drawn was not touched. Dalton's reply was that never in his life did he have to go under a wagon or a vehicle in order to clean it, and that he would not do it now. He was informed that when he was instructed to clean a vehicle he had to clean it underneath as well as on top. He said: "I would prefer to leave the job."
Is the Minister aware, or would the Minister make inquiries, as to whether there is any correctness in the allegation that these instructions to which the Minister has referred were transmitted to Dalton in language which was filthy and obscene, to which he took exception, and that the filthy and obscene language was used by a young man to an old man who had been a member of the General Post Office Garrison? Does the Minister not consider that that is something which could bear a little investigation?
I do not claim to be a judge of filthy and obscene language but I do claim to have looked very fully and sympathetically into this particular case because, like anybody else, I do not like to see a man dismissed from his work, but there would be no discipline if such things as the outline I gave of the case indicates were tolerated.