asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he will state under what circumstances a contract for Army caps and leggings was, it is stated, placed with firms outside the Saorstát.

No contract for Army leggings has been placed outside An Saorstát. On the contrary, a contract for 10,000 pairs of leggings was placed with an Irish firm a month ago.

A contract for 750 Army Police caps was placed last August with a London firm, as the price quoted by them was materially less than the Irish price, even allowing the usual preferential concession in favour of the latter. The serge and badges for the caps were made in the Saorstát.

Might I ask what the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs has got to do with Army leggings? Should this question not be answered by the Minister for Defence?

I have quite a lot to do, sir, with them.