asked the Minister for Justice whether the train service to Sallins arranged in connection with the Wolfe Tone celebration for Sunday, the 21st of June, was cancelled pursuant to an order by the Government; and, if so, will he state the enactment by virtue of which such order was made.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - A Cancelled Train Service.
As I have already stated in this House on the 24th of last month the cancellation of these trains was directed for the reason that the declared object of the proposed assembly was a parade of bodies purporting to be of military character not authorised by law, contrary to the Treasonable Offences Act, 1925.
Will the Minister state under what enactment such an order was issued for the cancellation of the trains?
I can inform the Deputy that illegal assemblies are not going to take place.
Will the Minister state the enactment under which such order was made?
It was made under the powers to prevent illegal assemblies taking place even though the Deputy partakes in them.
Will the Minister quote me the Act or the section of the Act under which he made the order?
I will give the Deputy no further information than I have given him.
Is it a fact that there was no legal authority whatever for the order issued?
How will the fact that people come by train to these assemblies make them more illegal than they are, or will the running of the trains make the assembly larger?
Yes, the Deputy has answered the question himself.
Is it a fact that included in the order was the special train chartered by the Minister for Defence to take troops from Kingsbridge to Sallins?
Is it not a fact that this train for bringing the military to Sallins was cancelled by the order?
I have never heard of such a train, and I do not believe there was any such train ever ordered.