asked the Minister for Defence whether he will state why payment was refused to Michael Bergen, Connolly Street, Nenagh, for goods supplied to Free State Barracks at Nenagh in the year 1922.

As intimated to Deputy Daniel Morrissey in reply to a similar question on 27th March, 1924, the canteen at Nenagh Barracks was not run by military, but by civilian contractors, and, as pointed out in the reply, no claim can be admitted against Army funds.

I would like to ask the Minister if he is aware that the goods were ordered by a National Army Sergeant-Major, and that goods supplied in the same way to the canteens at Roscrea and Templemore Barracks have been paid for.

I had a communication from Mr. Bergin on the 20th of June that the goods were supplied to certain contractors.

I have evidence here to prove that they were ordered by a sergeant-major.

My information is that the goods were supplied to a canteen run by a civilian contractor, and that this is a matter for ordinary civil proceedings between this man and the man who got the goods from him.

Would the Minister say if the canteens at Templemore and Roscrea were run differently?

I cannot say offhand. All I know is—and this is confirmed by Mr. Bergin himself—that this was a business transaction between himself and the contractor.

I have letters here from the sergeant-major himself. Would these satisfy the Minister?

The sergeant-major may have been acting as an agent for the contractor. I do not know.