§ Mr. FLAVINasked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that Mr. Cyril Browne, Local Government Board inspector, who is physically fit and only thirty years of age, has made application to the Local Government Board for permission to join the Irish Brigade in order to fill up one of the gaps at present in existence; and 1561W whether he can state why the Local Government Board have not acceded to Mr. Brown's request to join the Colours?
§ Mr. DUKEMr. Cyril Browne, who is forty-three years of age, not thirty, as stated in the question, is a Local Government Board auditor. With the permission of the Local Government Board he applied to the War Office for war service, but owing to the pressure of official business on the audit staff the Board were unable the accede to the request of the War Office for the loan of his services, as no substitute was available.
§ Mr. FLAVINasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he can say if Mr. Cyril Browne, Local Government Board auditor, came to Listowel union and started his audit four days before the date as advertised; whether the Reverend Canon O'Riordan, parish priest, Listowel, in the presence of the auditor made a public protest against his action in connection with the using and lighting of Christmas and wax candles on the altar and the crib of the Virgin and in the hospital; and if he will explain why Mr. Browne has stated that he did not know the candles were used for a religious_ purpose?
§ Mr. DUKEI am informed that Mr. Browne was engaged in Listowel for three days before, and remained in Listowel for two days after, the date officially advertised for the audit; that it is not a fact that Canon O'Riordan made any protest, public or otherwise, in the presence of Mr. Browne. He states that he does not know the Canon, and has never met him. Mr. Browne further states that he has never disallowed any payment for any article requisitioned for religious purposes or certified by a chaplain of any religious denomination.