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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 2 Mar 1922

Vol. S2 No. 3

MISCELLANEOUS QUESTIONS.

(Monaghan) asked the President:—

(a) In view of the grave condition of affairs disclosed by the Deputation from the Catholic Total Abstinence Federation which was received by An Dáil on February 28th what steps he proposes to take to prevent the growth of intemperance?

(b) What steps does the President propose to take to regularise the removal of the Belfast Boycott, which was imposed by a decree of the Dáil, dated 22nd January, 1921?

(c) Is it not a fact that, since the removal of the Boycott upon Belfast and its associated districts, there has been a very considerable increase in the number of outrages committed upon the Nationalist and Catholic population under Sir James Craig's Government? Do these outrages number now over 30 murders and over 200 attempts at murder?

Furthermore, in view of this grave and scandalous state of affairs in Belfast will he re-impose and strictly enforce the Belfast Boycott?

(d) Has the President received a telegraphic communication from Mr. Desmond Crean, Chairman of the Joseph Plunkett Sinn Féin Club, Belfast, giving him details of the outrages to which the Catholic population of Belfast are now being subjected under the Government of Sir James Craig?

If the President has not received the telegram to which I refer, has he not nevertheless received authentic accounts of the outrages from other reliable and unquestionable sources?

In any case, since the occurrence of these outrages is common knowledge, what measures do the President and his associates propose to take for the protection of the Nationalists and Catholic population of this country who live in Belfast and elsewhere, counties of Armagh, Down, Antrim, Derry, Fermanagh, and Tyrone?

read each question and answered as follows:—

(a) Answer—The statement made by the deputation will be considered by the Dáil Cabinet when the opposition permits it to get back to work.

(b) It was imposed by no Decree of the Dáil on January 22nd, 1921. It was not imposed by a Decree; it was action taken by the Cabinet, and the Cabinet had a right to take it off.

(c) It is not a fact that the removal of the Belfast Boycott has been the cause of a considerable increase in the outrages committed.

Answer the question, please. I did not ask was the removal the cause.

I am answering the question, Sir. It is not a fact that the removal of the Belfast Boycott has been the cause of a considerable increase in the outrages committed: that is the suggestion in your question.

Answer my question —and not any suggestion you wish to put into it.

I am answering your question.

You are not.

It is a fact that the removal of the Boycott was followed by a period of peace and friendliness, but it has now been succeeded by a period of outrage inspired by the Orange enemies of the Treaty, with a view to preventing the Free State Government carrying it into being. The Cabinet will, if the outrages continue, consider the advisability of resuming the Boycott.

(d) The answer to the first part of the question is yes. As regards the second the difficulty the Government experienced in taking effective steps to deal with this matter is principally due to the delay in the establishment of the Free State Parliament to which Mr. McEntee and the Belfast pogromists are united in opposition. Meanwhile everything possible will be done to help the people who are being subjected to brutal outrage.

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