asked the Minister for Defence if he will state if the personnel of the Marine and Coast Watching Service come under the Army Demobilisation Scheme recently published; or if the look-out posts will be retained after the emergency and the present personnel kept on.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Army Demobilisation.
Mr. Corish
Mr. Boland (for the Minister for Defence)
The provisions of the scheme for demobilisation recently published as a White Paper apply generally to the Marine and Coast Watching Service as to other branches of the Defence Forces. While it is intended to retain possession of the look-out posts, it is not proposed to retain the personnel at these posts.
asked the Minister for Defence if he will allow soldiers and members of the voluntary services, on demobilisation, to keep possession of their overcoats and underclothing.
Mr. Boland
Members of the Defence Forces will, on demobilisation, be entitled to retain possession of their underclothing. Members of the voluntary services are not supplied with underclothing at public expense and the question of retention does not, therefore, arise.
Ordinarily, greatcoats, which are part of the uniform proper, must be surrendered. I am, however, having the question examined and I will inform the Deputy when a decision has been reached.
Will the Minister consider the matter favourably, as, in view of the scarcity of clothing and coupons, these men when they leave the Army may not be able to get overcoats?
In the event of the Minister deciding to leave these coats to the men—and I think he might well do so—will he consider having them marked in some way on the inside to indicate that the clothes have been come by legitimately, so as to avoid the danger, in the event of Army clothing being stolen on some other occasion, of the case being made that the clothing discovered by the Gárdaí is clothing which did not come under this scheme?
Mr. Boland
I will draw the Minister's attention to that.
Will the Minister intervene in the matter? I have been informed that they will not get all the underclothing and that certain articles of underclothing will be taken from them.
Mr. Boland
I cannot add anything to what has been said already—that they will be entitled to retain possession of the underclothing. Surely that is sufficient to indicate the position? What is the use of listening to rumours?