asked the Minister for Defence if he will state with reference to certain losses from the stores of an FCA Battalion what steps have been taken since the submission of the findings of a Court of Inquiry to establish the responsibility of any officer for these losses; whether the investigations have produced any evidence which was not brought to the notice of the Court; if so, why the Court was not re-convened to consider such evidence; if no further evidence has been found, whether the investigations are still proceeding; and what reason he has for believing that further evidence, eighteen months after the loss was discovered, can now be procured.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - FCA Battalion Stores.
64.
The information requested in the first part of the Deputy's question is confidential and I am not prepared to make it available to him. In regard to the second and third parts of the Deputy's question there is no obligation on the convening authority or higher authority to accept the findings of a Court of Inquiry or to submit any fresh evidence to the Court. I have fully considered the facts of the case and I propose, subject to any representations that the officer concerned may wish to make, to require him to pay a sum of £72 towards the deficiencies of stores. He has been advised of the reasons for this decision and is being afforded an opportunity to show cause why this course should not be taken. Meanwhile, the balance of his gratuity under the Defence Forces (Pensions) Scheme, less the above-mentioned sum, has been released.
65.
asked the Minister for Defence if he will state in the case of the officer from whom £486 has been provisionally withheld since 1st August 1961 the number and location of each stores for which he was personally responsible and the rank and qualifications of each member of his staff.
The answer to the first part of the Deputy's Question is— three main stores and three sub-stores located in Griffith Barracks, and one sub-stores located in Collins Barracks, Dublin.
The officer's staff consisted of five company quartermaster-sergeants, one sergeant and five privates. Four of the company quartermaster-sergeants had completed appropriate Army courses, and the other two non-commissioned officers had suitable experience over a number of years.