asked the Minister for Defence whether the necessary amenities such as (a) winter clothing, (b) razor blades, (c) stamps and stationery and (d) toothpaste are made available to internees in the Curragh; and, if not, whether he will make the necessary arrangements to have them provided.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Amenities for Curragh Internees.
80.
Under the detention regulations the men are allowed to wear their own clothing and supplies of necessary clothing by friends are permitted. The position in this respect is under constant review by Army medical officers, and necessitous cases are met as they arise. No hardship has been cased to any man by a refusal to issue clothing or footwear.
The regulations also provide that where detainees have sufficient money to their credit, stamps are affixed to their letters; otherwise letters are allowed to go unstamped.
Razor blades, stationery and toothpasts are not supplied at the public expense, and I do not intend to alter that arrangement. These items may be purchased by the men from a canteen which is open regularly at the camp.
Is it a fact that many of these men have not the money wherewith to purchase these ordinary amenities and is it the situation now that these things will not be made available to them by the Minister?
That situation has not arisen.
Is the Minister aware that a number of these men who are interned are unable to purchase these amenities? They have to money.
I am not so aware.
In those circumstances, would he make these amenities available now?
Those circumstances do not exist.