Committee on Finance. - Vote 63—Army. – Dáil Éireann (10th Dáil) – Thursday, 19 Feb 1942

Minister for Justice (Mr. Boland)

I move:—

Go ndeontar suim breise, ná raghaidh thar £10, chun íoctha an Mhuirir a thiocfaidh bhun bheith iníoctha i rith na bliana dar críoch an 31adh lá de Mhárta, 1942, chun an Airm agus Cúltaca an Airm (maraon le Deontaisí áirithe i gCabhair) fé sna hAchtanna Fórsaí Cosanta (Forálacha Sealadacha), agus chun Costaisí áirithe riaracháin ina dtaobh san; chun Costaisí Oifig an Aire Cóimhriartha Cosantais; chun Costaisí i dtaobh daoine áirithe do thriail agus do choinneáil (Uimh. 28 de 1939, Uimh. 1 de 1940 agus Uimh. 16 de 1940); chun Costaisí áirithe fé sna hAchtanna um Chiontaí in aghaidh an Stáit, 1939 agus 1940 (Uimh. 13 de 1939 agus Uimh. 2 de 1940), agus fén Acht um Réamhchúram in aghaidh Aer-Ruathar, 1939 (Uimh. 21 de 1939); chun Cúl-Sholáthairtí Leighis d'Ospidéil Síbhialta, chun Costaisí áirithe de chuid an Fhórsa Chosanta Aitiúil (ar a n-áirmhítear Deontaisí-i-gCabhair) (Uimh. 28 de 1939); agus chun Costaisí áirithe i dtaobh an Chuimhneacháin speisialta ar Eirghe Amach 1916.

That a supplementary sum, not exceeding £10, be granted to defray the Charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending 31st March, 1942, for the Army and the Army Reserve (including certain Grants-in-Aid) under the Defence Forces (Temporary Provisions) Acts, and for certain administrative Expenses in connection therewith; for the Expenses of the Office of the Minister for the Co-Ordination of Defensive Measures; for Expenses in connection with the trial and detention of certain persons (No. 28 of 1939, No. 1 of 1940 and No. 16 of 1940); for certain Expenses under the Offences against the State Acts, 1939 and 1940 (No. 13 of 1939 and No. 2 of 1940), and the Air-Raid Precautions Act, 1939 (No. 21 of 1939); for Reserve Medical Supplies for Civilian Hospitals; for certain Expenses of the Local Defence Force (including Grants-in-Aid) (No. 23 of 1939); and for certain Expenses in connection with the special Commemoration of the 1916 Rising.

Minister for Defence (Mr. Traynor)

In order to mark in an appropriate manner the 25th anniversary of the 1916 Rising, the Government decided, inter alia: (1) to hold a special commemoration parade, and (2) to have struck two medals, one for those who took part in the Rising, and the other for those who had service subsequently in the War of Independence. The present Supplementary Estimate, for a gross sum of £2,250 and a net sum of £10, is now introduced in order to get the Dáil's authorisation for the special expenses incurred in connection with the parade and medals.

The parade was held on Easter Sunday, 1941, and consisted of units of the Army, Old I.R.A. units, surviving fit members of those who took part in the actual Rising, and units of the various emergency defence forces, and the Dáil is now asked to approve the expenditure incidental to it. This expenditure covers items such as the platform, the wireless and telephonic apparatus used in the General Post Office, past which the units marched and at which the salute was taken. The cost of such incidentals was approximately £263.

The 1916 Medal, mounted on a green and orange poplin ribbon, depicts Cuchualain in a dying attitude, and the design is the work of a corporal serving in the Army Corps of Engineers. This medal is awarded: (1) to persons in possession of military service certificates for service rendered during Easter Week, 1916; (2) to persons who did not apply for such certificates, but who can produce evidence to show that if they did they would have been entitled to a certificate; (3) to the next-of-kin of those persons who have since died and who had such certificates, or would have had them if they had applied for them.

Two thousand medals of the 1916 type were struck and the bulk of them were presented by an Taoiseach on the 8th, 10th and 12th April, 1941, at special parades held at Collins Barracks, Dublin. Of the 2,000 medals struck 1,906 (including 266 posthumous) have actually been awarded, and the remaining 94 are held either for 1916 men living overseas or for persons who have yet to satisfy the Department that they are entitled to them. The cost of the 1916 medals is approximately £345. Mounted on a black and tan poplin ribbon, and designed by a civilian, the service medal depicts in the centre a typical member of a flying column, and the quarters bear the arms of the four provinces. Ten thousand medals of this type have been struck and are ready for issue. They will be awarded for service rendered subsequent to Easter Week, 1916, and prior to the Truce of 1921. The question as to whether their issue will be confined to persons who had active and pensionable service, or whether persons who had service of a non-pensionable nature will be included is under consideration. The cost of the 10,000 medals which have been struck is £1,642. The special gross expenditure, therefore, in connection with the commemoration of the 1916 rising which the Dáil is asked to approve is £2,250, and as this sum is offset by savings on the Army Vote, the net expenditure which it is asked to vote is the token sum of £10.

General Mulcahy

In the beginning of last year when the commemoration of the 1916 rising was planned—in fact, I think, it was after it was carried out—I drew attention to the fact that there were aspects of the national presentation of Easter 1916 that ought to be borne in mind. I quoted at that particular time the challenge of Pearse to the conscience of our people as to how it was possible for a man to look after his family in Dublin on 20/- a week.

This Estimate makes certain provision for the Office of the Minister for the Co-ordination of Defensive Measures. Yesterday a National Health Insurance Bill was introduced which the Parliamentary Secretary said was far-reaching, and I raised on that Bill the difficulty and the inadequacy of the machinery for dealing with national health which provided that a man and his family would, during the father's sickness, get only 15/- a week under the National Health Insurance Act. Two of the three Dublin papers this morning made no reference at all to any of the general aspects of that position that I put before the House. I want to ask on this Estimate, which provides certain things under the Office of the Minister for the Co-ordination of Defensive Measures, was there any aspect of my contribution on the National Health Insurance Bill yesterday evening in the House forbidden by the censor to be printed in any of the morning papers?

Mr. Corish

It is not permissible to raise anything about separation allowance on this Estimate?

An Ceann Comhairle

No. I was under the same impression as Deputy Mulcahy that many things would be in order until I was informed of the particular purpose of the Vote.

Mr. Bennett

There is a bill for £8,000,000.

Mr. Traynor

The Supplementary Estimate is in the usual form, Sir.

Committee on Finance. - Vote 63—Army.

Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 19 Feb 1942