asked the Minister for Finance whether he is aware that owners of property destroyed by British Forces, in Mallow, Co. Cork, 1920, are dissatisfied with the awards of the Compensation Commission; that British Government decrees are being considerably decreased, for reasons not yet explained, with the result that rebuilding of all those premises is being held up, and that the claimants are gradually but surely heading for bankruptcy; whether he would receive a deputation of those claimants who are prepared to satisfy him of the justice of their claim; whether, pending further investigation and final adjustment of those claims, the Minister would arrange a loan on the decrees they hold to those people, to assist them in rebuilding at once; whether the Minister is aware that those unfortunate people of Mallow suffered intensely at the hands of the British Forces, and have been suffering much privation for the past three years, since their homes and business establishments were totally destroyed, and to ask that their claims should now be dealt with generously and promptly.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. [ORAL ANSWERS.] - MALLOW COMPENSATION AWARDS.
No complaints of a general nature from the town of Mallow or elsewhere in the Saorstát, regarding the reduction of decrees by the Compensation (Ireland) Commission, when making its awards, have so far been brought to the notice of the Minister for Finance. Having regard to the fact that the Minister cannot interfere with the Commission (which is an International Tribunal), no useful purpose can be served by his receiving a deputation. The question of providing loans does not arise in cases where the Commission have made awards, as in such cases final payment can be made forthwith, subject, of course, to compliance with any condition as to rebuilding.
All awards are paid as soon as possible after they have been notified, but the necessity for legal formalities has, hitherto, been the cause of some little delay. With the passage into law of the Damage to Property Bill, this necessity disappears, and it is hoped, in future, to discharge all awards with far greater expedition.
Will the Minister explain why it is necessary to reduce all these decrees considering that the British Government instructed their forces to burn these places, set up their own courts, tried to get expert evidence, and made their own awards? Why then should it be necessary now to reduce these awards?
The Commission was not set up by me, and was not appointed by an Order of the Executive Council or Provisional Government. It was an agreed Commission, and as such we have agreed to abide by its decisions, and it is not any part of our business to investigate the compensation awarded by the Commission as such.
May I say it is your business to protect your own subjects.
That is my business, certainly, but I do not know if I have any subjects. If the Deputy would inform me where my subjects are I would undertake to look after them.