asked the Minister for Defence the position held, and duties being performed, by a former Army officer (name supplied) immediately prior to his retirement.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Duties of former Army Officer.
24.
The officer in question was posted to the Command Training Depot, Eastern Command on the 28th April, 1970 where his appointment was training officer on the training staff of the Depot. Prior to that date he had been serving in the intelligence section of the Chief of Staff's branch. He applied for permission to retire from the Permanent Defence Force on the 29th April, 1970 and this permission was granted with effect from the 1st May, 1970.
When this man was in the intelligence section was he not carrying out the orders of his superior officer? Why should this gentleman suffer now if the orders of his superior officer differ from the policy of the Taoiseach?
In the first place there is not a suggestion that the officer will suffer now. The officer did not resign. He retired as he was entitled to do.
He was pushed out like Deputy Ó Móráin. That is what is wrong with this country at present. It is time people were told the truth. Too much dirt is being swept under the carpet. The people believe nothing they are told now because they have been misled for too long.
Order.
(Interruptions)
In relation to the duties of this man could the Minister say if it was part of his duty to attend twice at Dublin Airport posing as an official of the Department of Finance in connection with an alleged importation of arms?
In the general context this is an intelligence matter and I am not prepared to state the type of activity or the nature of the duties of an intelligence officer.
Even when allegations are made?
Would the Minister not agree that if an intelligence officer was, in fact, interrogated by the Garda the least the Army might do for him was to say publicly that he was on State business and thereby clear his character?
That is a separate question.
Would the Minister not agree that in those circumstances the officer concerned was under the command of a commandant, a half colonel and a full colonel and that anything he did——
What is a half colonel?
The Deputy will fit the bill.
For the information of the Deputies over there a lieutenant colonel is a half colonel. This man must to a very large degree have been acting with the knowledge of his immediate superior officers.
There cannot be a debate on this. I will allow Deputy Fitzpatrick to ask one further supplementary.
(Cavan): In view of the fact that serious charges have been made against this young officer by the previous Minister for Defence, and that that officer has strenuously denied those charges, does the Minister not think an ample opportunity should be afforded to the officer to clear his character?
That is an entirely separate matter.
(Cavan): It does not arise.
This is entirely a matter of interpretation.
(Cavan): The officer was constrained to call the previous Minister an unmitigated scoundrel.
It will be a long time before anybody joins the intelligence section of the Irish Army again.