§ Mr. BYRNEasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether the Irish political prisoners at Frongoch are or were, until recently, compelled to sleep in grain lofts which are insanitary and infested with rats; whether he is aware that men have been certified by the camp doctor as being in good health, and that on re-examination at the request of the camp leader he has admitted that they were suffering from affection of the lungs; that prisoners have on numerous occasions fainted on rising in the morning; that the meat supplied to the prisoners has on three occasions been condemned; that it is impossible for the 999W prisoners to keep the food sent them by their friends owing to the rata which infest their quarters; whether he is aware that the camp censor refused to allow a visitor to question the prisoners about the food supplied to them; that six of the prisoners have been isolated for scabies as a result of the quality of food supplied; that at least a dozen of the prisoners are under eighteen years of age; whether a report of the London committee of the Irish National Belief Fund containing these allegations, amongst others, has been brought to the notice of the authorities; and whether it is proposed to take any steps in the matter?
Mr. SAMUELSome of the allegations made in the question have already been dealt with by me on numerous occasions in this House. I am making inquiry into those that have not.