Deputy Aiken gave notice that he would raise a matter on the adjournment arising out of Question No. 2.
QUESTION ON ADJOURNMENT.
What I want is to inquire what steps the President took, or intends to take, to see that adequate compensation is awarded to those Northern Nationalists who suffered the losses of their homes and property without compensation because of the operations carried out by the Irish Republican Army under the authority of the First and Second Dála?
A question to be raised on the adjournment must be a definite question and must be a question for which a Minister may be made responsible by way of reply. I have only got notice of this in the last ten minutes, and I am not clear as to what the precise matter is, and as to what the exact responsibility of the President might be. I would like to have sufficient time to consider with Deputy Aiken what it is he does want to raise, to come to a decision as to whether this is a matter which can properly be raised. I think if the Deputy would postpone the matter to another day, so that it might be considered, he could have it raised properly. But in the meantime on this notice I cannot really give a decision.
I have no objection to postponing it to another day. I want to point out that I am simply trying to get an answer from the President to the question that has appeared on to-day's Order Paper.
I agree. I was not quite clear about the question on the Order Paper either, but if the matter were postponed it could be considered in proper order.
As Deputy Aiken's question is not to be raised on the motion for the adjournment, have I permission to raise the question of the partisan treatment of the Fianna Eireann and to place certain facts relating thereto before this House?
The Deputy desires to raise the matter referred to in Question 22?
Yes.
I want to point out that the matter is to be confined altogether to the question of the handbooks, and their return or non-return. The Deputy can raise that question. I think the notice that he is giving now is of a more general character. I do not want the Deputy to give notice now in such a way that he might be prevented from raising his real point later.
It arises out of the Minister's reply. He stated that the reason why the books were seized was because they were of a treasonable character and that they contained certain instructions as regards drill and rifle exercises.
If the answer arises out of Question 22 and, the answer, I will accept that notice.