asked the Minister for Justice for what reasons 1,500 copies of the Official Handbook of Fianna Eireann (Boy Scouts of Ireland) were seized in a raid by Gárda Síochána on Frankfort House, Dartry Road, Dublin, the residence of the late Madame Markievicz, in August, 1925; and whether, in view of the fact that 100 copies of the same Handbook, which were seized in a raid on Woodpark Lodge, Dartry Road, Dublin, in January, 1927, were returned to Fianna Eireann on the application of the late Madame Markievicz, he is prepared to arrange for the return of the 1,500 copies of the Handbook mentioned above, or, alternatively, allow compensation for their loss.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - FIANNA EIREANN OFFICIAL HANDBOOK.
The copies of the publication mentioned in the first part of the Deputy's question were seized because they were of a treasonable character. The copies mentioned in the second part of the question were returned on the application of the late Madame Markievicz by the police by whom they were seized in the exercise of their discretion and without reference to police headquarters or to the Department of Justice. I am not sure that they should have been returned, and I am not prepared to order the return of the copies seized on the earlier date.
Will the Minister state what he means when he says that the books were of a treasonable character?
Because the books contained instructions on rifle drill, and they were the property of an organisation that had arms and is closely affiliated with another organisation of adults which is inimical to the State.
May I correct the Minister when he says that this organisation is closely associated with any other organisation. It is not. With your permission I would like to raise the question of partisan treatment on the motion for the adjournment.
There is one question on the adjournment already.
Is the Minister aware that the Baden Powell Boy Scouts have a handbook and that it contains instructions on rifle fire and all the rest of it? Is he going to seize their handbook also?
The Deputy is misinformed when he says that the Baden Powell Boy Scouts have a handbook with instructions about the use of arms.
The Minister is wrong. We have one of them here containing such instructions.
Can I raise the question on the adjournment?
No; we can only have one question on the adjournment. Deputy Aiken has already given notice. But there will be further adjournments, when the Deputy will be in order in raising the question.