I think I have dealt with all the major points raised on this Estimate. There is very little more I need say. I was dealing with some points raised in connection with the equitation team when progress was reported on the last day this Estimate was before the House. I said I was glad to see that all the Deputies who took an interest in this matter had noted with appreciation the continued improvement in the performance of the team. I mentioned in my opening statement that they finished last year with a successful American tour and, when I was replying. I was able to state that the team had started this year very successfully on the Continent. Since then, Deputies will have noted the further outstanding success of the team at the second show in their present Continental tour at Nice.
This high standard of performance by a team composed of young riders and horses has been reached earlier than it was reasonable to expect and is a great tribute to everyone concerned. The riders have worked very hard and, in spite of the fact that there was some unkind criticism, their morale is high. The officers in charge of the School have tackled the task of restoring the team to its former high standard with diligence, skill and enthusiasm. And the Horse Purchasing Board have played their part and, despite the shortage of suitable animals, have succeeded in getting a number of first-class horses which are obviously able to hold their own in international competitions.
While I am speaking of the purchase of horses, I should like to assure Deputy Sweetman that there is no specific limit to the amount which may be paid for any one horse. In fact, in the past two years, the money allocated for that purpose has not been fully availed of because of the difficulty of obtaining suitable horses. Although the team are doing well, they cannot be considered as being up to strength in regard to the number of first-class horses. It is the objective of the Purchasing Board to try to rectify that deficinecy as soon as possible.
As I say, the allocation of money for the past few years has been on the basis of the number and price of suitable horses which it was hoped they would be able to obtain during the coming year. There is no specific limit on the price to be paid for any one horse, except what would be determined by the experience and good judgement of the Board. I can find no record of any such limit, although Deputy Sweetman has referred to it on a number of occasions. I do not know if there was any such agreed figure between himself and the Minister for Defence when he was Minister for Finance, but I can find no record of a specific limit in the Department.
I agree with the view that we should either have a team that is worthy of our traditions of horsemanship or not have a team at all. I can assure Deputies that there is no such thing as cheeseparing, as was insinuated here, apart from the fact that every effort is made to ensure that good value is got for the expenditure of public money. As Deputy Sweetman said, there will inevitably be some failures. Some horses will not be as good as was hoped, and some promising riders will not make the grade. With proper encouragement, the team should continue to improve and continue to give a good account of themselves in international competitions.
I must say it was rather a shock to me that a Deputy in this House objects to the annual parade on Easter Sunday, the parade which commemorates the birth of the struggle which gave us our present independence in this part of the country, and which is held to honour all those who took part in the struggle. It is generally agreed that Easter has a uniquely important significance for the Irish people and to me, anyway, it seems inconceivable that this annual tribute should not be paid.
Most people—and certainly those who sincerely want to see past bitternesses disappear—will agree that it would be most unwise for the Army to parade officially at a ceremony held to honour any one particular controversial figure, no matter what side he took during the Civil War. That could only have the effect of helping to perpetuate the bitternesses which have persisted since that time.
I regret that on this occasion I allowed myself to be somewhat provoked by the rather transparent attempt that has been made in the past couple of years to introduce this note of recrimination during the debate on this Estimate. I suggest to the House that it is obvious that the present position in which Easter Sunday is set aside by the State as a day to honour all those who took part in the national struggle—the position which obtained right up to the change of Government in 1948, and which was reverted to in 1951—is the fairest, least provocative, and most acceptable way of dealing with this matter.
I dealt fairly extensively with the question of Army pay and the recent pay increase, and I do not propose to go into any further detail in that regard, beyond saying that, as I suspected, the case made by Deputy Sweetman in which he quoted certain figures is completely wrong. It is not true to say that civil servants' salaries have been increased by a greater percentage since 1939, than those of the Army, whether officers, N.C.O.s, or private soldiers. In fact the reverse can be shown to be true, and I have figures to prove it, but, as I say, I went into the matter in fairly considerable detail and I do not propose to detain the House any longer on that subject.