asked the Minister for Defence if he is aware that a sporting gun registered in the Chief Ordnance Office, Royal Arsenal, Wool-wich (Serial No. D/10,553) as the property of Patrick Casserly, Derryveigh, Ballymahon, is now in custody in the Chief Odnance Office, Island Bridge Barracks, Dublin; that the owner has applied repeatedly to have the gun restored to him; that his request has been refused on the ground that he did not produce a receipt from the British Army authorities, though he did not in act receive any such certificate; and whether the Minister will now direct that the gun be restored to him.

Mr. Casserly was informed on the 29th November, 1924, and again on the 1st and 17th September, 1925, that on production of a firearms certificate obtainable from the Gárda Síochána, the weapon would be issued to him. Up to the present Mr. Casserly has not furnished the necessary certificate and until he does so the gun cannot be restored to him.

I could not hear a single word that the Minister said.

Perhaps the Minister would be good enough to repeat the reply.

I think I spoke up, and if the Deputy did not hear me it was because the ordinary Deputies were not mannerly enough to keep order. (Reply re-read.)

Arising out of the Minister's reply, would he say who are the extraordinary Deputies?

That was not part of the reply.

Might I ask the Minister if this gun is not in the possession of the Free State Army authorities at present? Under what circumstances will they give it back to the rightful owner, and if they are not going to do that will they compensate him for the loss of the gun?

I have already answered the question.