§ Sir J. BUTCHERasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether his attention has been called to a statement coming from an authoritative source to the effect that in the recent murderous attack on the barracks of the 17th Lancers at Mallow two civilian painters working in the barracks, who had boon employed by the Government for over two years, left their work, jumped over the body of Sergeant Gibbs, who had been murdered, and fired some shots into the guard room and then held up the remainder of the guard with revolvers; whether the facts are as stated; whether these painters have been arrested; and whether he will give directions that all painting and other work given out by Government Departments in Ireland shall be given, so far as possible, to ex-service men?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODMy attention has been drawn to the statement in question and the facts are substantially as stated. It is already the practice of Irish Government Departments in giving out work to employ ex-service men where possible. One of the painters mentioned in question was an ex-service man.