asked the President if he will state when and in what form Major-General Prout was officially advised of his demobilisation.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - DEMOBILISATION OF MAJORPROUT.
The demobilisation of Colonel Prout and the other officers referred to by me on 13th instant will appear in next Friday's issue of Iris Oifigiúil, and Colonel Prout will then receive an official notification of his demobilisation.
Is the President aware that Major-General Prout read of his demobilisation in the Evening Herald of the 13th June?
I am not aware of that fact, but I am aware of the fact that he could have read it there.
Does the President not consider it a very regrettable state of affairs that officers are advised of their pending demobilisation under such circumstances?
It was not officially reported in the Herald. It was reported there by reason of a question being asked here. If there be any lack of courtesy to Major-General Prout it is my responsibility. In the ordinary way this particular notice should have been gazetted at an earlier date. I myself held it up with a view to seeing if it would not be better that resignations should be asked for from those officers. On inquiry I found that putting that request to the officers in question might admit of complications. If it had not been for my own action in holding up the gazetting of this particular demobilisation, it should have appeared ten days or a fortnight ago, and this particular incident would not have occurred.
Will the President take steps to have written notifications sent to officers who are being demobilised some period of time before their names appear in the Iris Oifigiúil as having been demobilised?
Will the Minister for Defence explain what is the position of an officer when you speak of him as being demobilised? Does it mean that his commission is withdrawn?
Yes.