§ 24. Mr. GINNELLasked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) why the Department has not obtained and distributed through the county technical committees during the last ten months for Irish women and girls some of the knitting and sewing required for the Army and Navy and of the public money spent thereon; and, seeing that Ireland contributes her share of that expenditure and that Irish girls need it and could earn it at home in their parents' houses, whether he will take any steps to have its distribution equalised as from the beginning of the War?
§ The CHIEF SECRETARY for IRELAND (Mr. Birrell)It is not competent for technical instruction committees to undertake contracts of the kind. The Department have done everything possible to secure contracts for Irish firms and are aware that a number of contracts have been so placed. It is understood that the central committees on women's employment are distributing work of the kind in those centres in Ireland where there are trained workers available.