asked the Minister for External Affairs whether he is aware that Mrs. William O'Brien, widow of the late William O'Brien, M.P., has now reached the age of 86; that she has recently made repeated pleas for financial assistance to enable herself and the French ladies with whom she has been living in France and who have taken care of her for years to return to the home they were forced to evacuate at the time of the German invasion of France and to replace the household effects which were then destroyed; and whether, in view of the services rendered by her deceased husband and herself to the Irish nation, and because of the urgent necessity of securing the comfort of Mrs. O'Brien in the last years of her life, he will take immediate steps to have a small, but reasonably sufficient, capital sum made available from public funds to enable Mrs. O'Brien to re-establish her home.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Re-Establishment of Irish Lady's Home.
I am not aware that Mrs. O'Brien has recently made repeated pleas for financial assistance, and the Deputy's reference to the need for a capital sum to enable her to re-establish her home is the first I have heard of the matter. Our Minister in Paris has been keeping in constant touch with Mrs. O'Brien and only last January he had a letter from her assuring him that he would hear from her whenever she was in difficulty.
As the Deputy knows, the Legation in France maintained contact with Mrs. O'Brien throughout the war years and were able to come to her assistance when, owing to exchange restrictions and other circumstances arising from the war, the income made available to her was insufficient for her needs. If the Deputy is aware of any circumstances which Mrs. O'Brien herself has not brought to the notice of the Legation, I hope he will communicate them to me. I shall gladly consider them.