asked the Taoiseach what steps the Government are taking, or propose to take, to vindicate Article 15. 6. of the Constitution, which provides as follows: 1 The right to raise and maintain military or armed forces is vested exclusively in the Oireachtas; 2 No military or armed force, other than a military or armed force raised and maintained by the Oireachtas, shall be raised or maintained for any purpose whatsoever.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Maintenance of Armed Forces.
Mr. de Valera
The Deputy may rest assured that the provisions of the Article of the Constitution referred to have been and will continue to be vindicated by the Government.
Mr. de Valera
Has the Taoiseach nothing to say with regard to the recent recruiting campaign which is clearly taking away from the Government its authority and power?
I certainly do not accept the suggestion of the Leader of the Opposition that any campaign has taken away the duties referred to by the Deputy. Nothing that has occurred, or is occurring, is in any way as serious as the Deputy suggests.
Mr. de Valera
Will the Taoiseach not agree that the fundamental sanction for the authority of the Government here in this country is the maintenance of the necessary force to enable the will of the Oireachtas to be carried out and if private individuals are permitted to organise forces which can be a challenge at any time to this force, is he not permitting the authority of the State to be interfered with?
I agree with the general statement in the first part of the Deputy's supplementary question, but there is no organisation in existence at the moment which conforms to the conditions described by him in the second part of the supplementary question.
Mr. de Valera
This is a serious matter and I should like to ask a further question. Will the Taoiseach not agree that, if individuals are permitted to go out publicly, to recruit for the purpose of organising a military force to take such action as they themselves may deem proper, they are interfering with the fundamental authority of the Oireachtas which in the last resort must be the one body that will determine national policy and act in accordance with national policy?
The matter of fact to which I am referring is that there is no person, so far as I know, being allowed to recruit military forces to take such action as they may think fit. There is no military force in existence at the moment. There is if the Deputy likes me so to describe it——
A phantom army.
——what is euphemistically called a volunteer movement. They have taken part, so far as our information goes — and I think we may take it as accurate — in no military manoeuvres or activities of a military kind and the assurance I gave to the Deputy will cover any action of that kind if it arises.
Mr. de Valera
I am very pleased to have that assurance from the Taoiseach but I should like to point out the danger that may result——
Mr. de Valera
——if the time for action is to be left to the judgment of those who are going to organise that force——
The time for action is not being left to them.
Mr. de Valera
I hope, therefore, the Taoiseach will take action in accordance with the statement he has made.
I shall take it if the circumstances justify it.
May I say as a supplementary——
No statement will be allowed.
As a supplementary question, may I ask the Taoiseach if he is aware, as the people are aware——
Is this a supplementary question?
This is a supplementary question. Is he aware that Partition will be ended very quickly in spite of the dog-in-the-manger attitude of Deputy de Valera?
Are we all to be free to organise private armies like Deputy Cowan?
You are not.
Can we take the same steps as Deputy Cowan has taken?
Yes, so long as they are within the law.
Are we to understand——
Question No. 2.