asked the Minister for Defence whether, in view of the complaints made by Irish troops in the Congo with regard to the non-receipt of gifts sent from this country to them, he will hold a thorough investigation into the method of distribution of these gifts.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Gifts for Irish Congo Troops.
51.
I am not aware that any such complaints have been made by our troops in the Congo. The second part of the question does not, therefore, arise.
Is the Minister aware that I have in my hand a letter from a person who served in the Congo in which he said: "I am enclosing a leaflet that I got in cigarettes which I paid for." The leaflet is this: "These cigarettes are a gift from the Irish Association of the Order of Malta." So, what the Order of Malta intended as a gift this unfortunate soldier was compelled to pay for. He goes on to say: "This is only one of many——"
It is not usual to read quotations at Question Time.
I know, but is it not very important? A few seconds of Parliament's time spent looking after our soldiers on the battlefield would not be misspent.
Could the Deputy not send the letter to the Minister?
The Minister does not want——
(Interruptions.)
That is not a fair way to ask supplementary questions.
We shall let the light beam on the Minister for Industry and Commerce if we deal with the instructions issued to the soldiers. The writer of the letter said: "This is only one of many. I have seen cigarettes sold in Elizabethville. I have seen them in the windows but I have had to pay 350 francs for them when I could have got them for 110 francs in my own canteen. Please do not give my name..."
I must again remind the Deputy it is not usual to give quotations as questions.
(Interruptions.)
Give the name and address.
I am willing to give the name to a responsible person— but not to the Deputy—on the assurance that there will be no victimisation of the person concerned. The Deputy could not give any assurance that anybody would not be victimised.
The Deputy should have sent me a letter.
I got it this morning.
Why did the Deputy not communicate with me?
I am telling the Minister now.
(Interruptions.)
I want to answer what Deputy Norton has read out, if I may. It is a fact that each soldier is entitled to a certain quota of cigarettes. He may or may not be a smoker. If he is a non-smoker he can do what he likes with his quota. It is quite possible that some of these quotas found their way into the places mentioned in this anonymous document of Deputy Norton's.
It is not anonymous. It is signed by the soldier, giving his number.
The letter is anonymous as far as I am concerned. The Deputy might have had the courtesy of communicating with me.
I got the letter this morning. I have told the Minister that. Can he not understand?
Nevertheless the Deputy could have communicated with me.
It is about time that the Minister took over his Department.
(Interruptions.)
Question No. 52.
Is the Minister not aware that the troops serving in the Congo cannot grouse and cannot ask questions——
That is not true.
It is true. I know that the troops in the Congo——
I have called Question No. 52. The Deputy will please resume his seat.
Is the Minister not aware that parcels sent out by the Red Cross have never reached the troops but have reached the shelves of bars and hotels in Elizabethville and I can prove this?
(Interruptions.)
That is false.
It is not false; it is a true statement.
It is a foul slander.
Question No. 52.