§ 23. Lord H. CAVENDISH-BENTINCKasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that a body of soldiers and police arrived in a motor lorry in the early morning of 18th July at Foynes, and arrested two men, the secretary and assistant manager, respectively, of the co-operative store, for collecting money in the village street without a permit, and that these men were afterwards committed to gaol; and whether he will explain why prosecutions for such offences are undertaken?
Mr. HENRYThe facts are as stated. The men were prosecuted for a breach of the Regulation made under the Statute 6 and 7 George V. Chapter 31, Section 5. They were brought before a resident magistrate, and refused to recognise the Court. He ordered them to find bail to be of good behaviour but they refused, and were sent to goal for a month in default. These men were collecting in, contravention of the Regulation. When the police asked them for their authority they stated they had De Valera's authority and recognised no other authority or no other law.
§ Mr. WATERSONWill the right hon. Gentleman consider the advisability of altering the law so as to make it possible for a business man to do business in Ireland in the street as can be done in this country?
§ Mr. WATERSONIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that in this country no end of business is done at the doors of people's houses, and how does he reconcile that fact with the statement which he has already made?
§ Lord H. CAVENDISH-BENTINCKIs it for this purpose that we are keeping an Army of 120,000 men in Ireland?