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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 19 Nov 1942

Vol. 88 No. 17

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Army Discharges.

asked the Minister for Defence if he will state the total number of (1) officers, (2) N.C.O.'s, and (3) men, discharged from the Army as medically unfit since the 1st September, 1939, distinguishing between those serving, those on the Reserve, and those enlisted for the duration; and the number so discharged who received on discharge no payment by way of pension, gratuity or bonus.

As requested by the Deputy on the 28th ultimo, in a previous question, the particulars required have, as far as possible, been furnished to him.

Will the answer that I have received be recorded on the records of the House?

The answer I have given will be recorded on the records of the House.

What I mean is that I have received a letter from the Department of Defence, purporting to answer a question that I put down here the other day, and I should like to know whether that answer will be recorded on the records of this House.

I am only answering these questions for the Minister for Defence, and I suggest that the Deputy should put down that request to the Minister for Defence.

Will the reply be put on the official report?

Yes. The reply I have given to-day will go on the records of the House, naturally.

I want to know whether the reply that has been sent to Deputy Mulcahy will be made available.

The Deputy can question the Minister for Defence on that point.

I am only concerned with the number of persons who have got no pensions or gratuities, and I want to know what number of persons are affected. If, however, the Minister for Defence sends a letter to Deputy Mulcahy, and then tries to by-pass it in this House, I want to know whether we can get a copy of that letter.

There are other means, of course. I am only answering for the Minister for Defence, and I cannot answer the Deputy's question.

Will the Minister promise to transmit to the Minister for Defence a request to publish the answer that Deputy Mulcahy got, or table it, or send me a copy?

Or send Deputy Norton a copy.

I put down a question dealing with this matter about a fortnight ago, and I repeated it on Friday last. I then received a letter, only yesterday morning, purporting to be an answer to the question I had put down. Am I to understand that the terms of that letter will be put on the records of this House?

No—only the reply given by the Minister to the House.

So far as you are concerned, Sir, if I repeat my question, will that information be made public?

That answer not having been made here, it can scarcely be put on record.

Is there any difficulty about reading the letter?

The Deputy had better ask the Minister for Defence.

May this question be repeated on to-morrow's Order Paper?

It will in effect be a "starred" question, even if the Dáil is sitting to-morrow.

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