To ask the Minister for Defence whether he is aware that members of the National Forces in Ballinasloe have gone round the town on two or three occasions and taken up all the bicycles they could find, without giving any receipt for same, or without stating the purpose of such seizure; that in consequence of the loss of their bicycles many workers are put to very great inconvenience, and that others are afraid to use their machines for the purpose of going to or coming from their work, lest they should be seized; and whether he will have full inquiries made into these complaints and have the bicycles returned as early as possible.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. - COMMANDEERING OF BICYCLES BY THE ARMY.
TOMAS O CONAILL
MINISTER for DEFENCE (General Mulcahy)
I am aware that bicycles have been commandeered by our troops in Ballinasloe. They were taken and are being retained as a matter of military necessity to facilitate the rounding up of Irregulars, for which purpose they have been very successfully used. Instructions have been issued to the responsible officer to provide receipts forthwith for all cycles taken. The cycles will be returned to the owners at the earliest possible moment.