There was quite a number of prisoners whose cases were the subject of many representations by the late General Collins, by the late President, by Mr. O'Higgins, and, during the term of office of the Provisional Government after the deaths of the President and General Collins, by myself. I think that no effort was spared to bring before British Ministers or the British Government, both the late British Government and the present one, the views that were held in this country regarding the release of these prisoners, how strongly their release was demanded and expected, how much that act would go towards effecting more cordial relations between the two countries, and how much stronger evidence it would afford of the determination of the British Government and the Government of Saorstát Eireann to efface the bitter memories of the long conflict that had taken place between the two countries. Now, to some extent, I am at a disadvantage with regard to many of the prisoners. There were others who were in touch with us, and who were working with us during the period of conflict, who had intimate knowledge of each and every one of those cases. That knowledge, as far as I am concerned, is not intimate. Their cases, as far as that is concerned, have not suffered to any extent by reason of that lack of intimacy. I think the Dáil must appreciate the different position that the Government of Saorstát Eireann is in now. That is to say, it is a coequal member of the community of Nations, and I expect that the relations between the Saorstát and the British Government must be conducted on certain lines with regard to those prisoners. The Dáil may rest assured that the Government has done everything that was reasonably possible, before and since the establishment of the Saorstát, to effect the release of those particular prisoners, and of Dowling. They are not matters that one can really discuss with any great freedom, because it will be appreciated that there is a certain dignity a Government must maintain, and we have been accustomed for so long to making representations about this or that or any other matter that we may easily lose sight of the fact that we are now an independent Nation, and that the course of representations with regard to these matters has to some extent altered. The alteration of these circumstances has not prejudicially affected this prisoner Dowling or any other prisoner. I expect that sooner or later no one will have any reason to complain, but I am not in a position just now to give any greater grounds of hope than that, and the fact that the Government thoroughly appreciate the necessity for the release of this man, who has certainly suffered more, I think, than any other prisoner has suffered, but about whose intimacy with the particular period of time in which he was arrested I had no actual knowledge.