asked the Minister for Finance why James Coffey, 95 Main Street, Carrick-on-Suir, who was awarded £84 compensation by Judge Seely on 13th March, 1924 (Ref. 401/1639/2) has not yet been paid, and whether it is the intention of the Minister to pay this decree forthwith.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - COMPENSATION AWARD.
The Judge made, not a decree, but a report under Section 15 of the Damage to Property (Compensation) Act, 1923, recommending that £84 compensation should be paid. The Minister for Finance has complete discretion as regards payments on foot of recommendations of this kind, and it is incumbent on my Department to examine all such cases with a view to ascertaining whether the conditions laid down in the section have been fulfilled. Inquiries instituted subsequent to the making of the report in Mr. Coffey's favour disclosed the fact that he had not fulfilled one of these conditions which requires that, to qualify for payment of compensation, an applicant must prove that his chattels were taken without his consent. Payment could not accordingly be made, and Mr. Coffey's solicitors were so notified on 14th October, 1925. He subsequently represented that the goods had been taken without his consent, and further inquiries were made, but their outcome merely confirmed the result of the previous investigation. In these circumstances I cannot see my way to modify the decision already arrived at in this case.