asked the Minister for Defence whether he is aware that two men, Michael Pepper and Laurence Neill, were shot in Enniscorthy by a military patrol on the night of 4th inst. without any apparent reason; whether he will give instructions that an immediate investigation into the matter be held; also to ask if it is intended to compensate these men for time lost during the period of incapacitation without prejudice to subsequent claims.

A Court of Enquiry held in the case of the wounding of Pepper and Neill has found that "Pepper and Neill were accidently wounded as a result of an attack on a Military Post in the vicinity of Vinegar Hill, Enniscorthy, and that owing to the position of the Troops, in relation to the place where the two men were wounded, it could not have been due to any fire from Troops." It would appear that any question of compensation would not be one for me to deal with.

Would the Minister state when the inquiry was held, and if there were any civilian witnesses called at that inquiry?

I know nothing about it myself, but I will take down any information the Deputy has to give.

That question can be put down on the Order Paper for another day.

Who will deal with the compensation then?

I expect that when the Minister for Defence inserted that in the answer he contemplated that the Ministry of Finance would deal with the compensation.

As far as I can see from the descriptions and particulars here, that case would come within the terms of reference that have been submitted to that Committee, but of course, I am not in a position, nor is any other Minister in a position, to say what particular cases should come before it. It must come before the Committee, and if there is a case for it, the Committee will be prepared to deal with it.

It is agreed, then, this is a case for submission to that Committee?

Yes.