§ MR. JAMES O'CONNORI beg to ask the Financial Secretary to the War Office if he can state whether all or any of the contracts for provisions and forage supplied to the camp at Imaal, county Wicklow, are in the hands of local traders; and whether any of the contracts are in the hands of firms situated outside Ireland; and, if so, what provisions or forage are supplied by such firms.
§ MR. BROMLEY DAVENPORTThe camp at Glen Imaal exists during the summer only. At the last camp the contracts for provisions and forage were held by Irish firms, and none were held by firms situated outside Ireland. As regards local traders, it must be remembered that Glen Imaal is in the depths of the Wicklow Mountains, and that there are no local traders capable of carrying out large contracts.
§ MR. JAMES O'CONNORAre there no traders in Dublin capable of carrying out such large contracts?
§ MR. BROMLEY DAVENPORTThe policy of the Department is to give the contracts to local traders.
§ MR. JAMES O'CONNORThen why are they sent out of Ireland?