asked the Minister for Defence if he will state why Private Thomas O'Meara, 7 South Richmond Street, Dublin, Pay Clerk (No. R. 484) Marriage Allowance Branch, Portobello, is about to be discharged on the 1st May, 1928; and whether he will consider the favourable exercise of his discretionary power of re-attestation under Enlistments Amendment (D.F.R. 28—1928) Defence Force Regulations, 1924, for a further twelve months' service in accordance with the recommendations of this man's Commanding Officer, Portobello, and the Chief Pay and Accounts Officer, G.H.Q.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - ARMY CLERK'S DISCHARGE.
Private O'Meara's discharge has been effected on the grounds that his term of enlistment has expired, and that on account of his age and medical condition he cannot be reattested. As regards the second part of the question, I assume the Deputy refers to Defence Force Regulation No. 22/1928 which provides for the retention of men employed in certain trades, whose retention is in the best interests of the service. Private O'Meara did not come within the scope of the Regulation.
Mr. BYRNE
In view of the fact that Private O'Meara is still six years from the maximum age and that he will be put on the labour market without any means and that he has a number of young children dependent on him, will the Minister not consider giving him some bounty?
I am afraid that under the regulations I could not. The Army is not an eleemosynary institution.