The total amount of money voted to the Tailteann Games, contrary to the many figures given in the Press and elsewhere, from the first Dáil to the present time, amounts to £6,500. The present sum of £7,500 is a loan which is a first charge on the takings of the games, and is re-payable, in addition, with five per cent. interest, which I think is the customary percentage for banks to charge. The General Council had the alternatives of securing this money from one of the banks or getting it in this way. I may say that there was a strong minority-feeling in favour of the former course. I myself favoured the latter course and I think that is the reason that this Dáil is discussing the loan of £7,500 to-night. represent every department of sport, that the Council of the Games, which represent every department of sport, music and literature in the country, do not feel themselves under any extraordinary compliment in getting this loan. I want to emphasise that. I must further say that I am rather inclined to think that they will very strongly resent some of the remarks made by Deputy Cooper here to-night. The people who constitute the various Councils of the Tailteann Games, not only here, but in many foreign countries, run into close on 2,000, all of them volunteer workers—men and women who devoted not only their time but their money to resurrecting this historic festival. I cannot let the occasion pass without expressing the belief that a great many of these will feel very resentful at the imputation contained in one of the remarks of Deputy Cooper to the effect that the gates will need special watching. That is the implication one might reasonably take from his remark. I think the Minister for Finance can feel assured that this loan will be quite secure in the hands of the General Council of the Games.
It is regrettable that a syllabus containing incorrect information should have been issued. In our desire to economise we offered the production of this little volume, which is concerned solely with the imparting of information to competitors, to public tender. A firm of repute here paid us what we consider a reasonable sum for the right of producing. It cost the Tailteann Council nothing; they made a profit on it. We made it clear to this company that we took responsibility only for that part of the material properly called a syllabus, dealing with the Games themselves, and anything else included in the book was on the responsibility of the producer. This fact is clearly stated in the fly-leaf attached to the cover, which every Deputy should have seen. If the outlook of a Catholic firm in Dublin—I use the word Catholic because it has been used in the introductory remarks of Deputy Cahill—should be so distorted as to give rise to comment on the part of another particular body, the Council of the Games refuse to take any responsibility. We refused to take responsibility for anything whatever contained in this book, except that part of the book relating to the syllabus. Let that be clear. This is not the official guide to the Tailteann Games. The official guide which is being produced will be carefully scrutinised by the body responsible for its production, and we hope that no material for offence will be included therein.
Apart from the historic side, I think, as Deputy Davin has said, the men and women who are working for the revival of these Games deserve some measure of gratitude from the people. The total cost to the nation so far, as I have said, has reached £6,500, and, as a matter of fact, it would have cost the nation nothing had not the civil strife of 1922 intervened to cause a postponement of the Games. Let us see what we have got for the expenditure. I would remind the Dáil of the fact that while there has been an agitation for a good part of a generation to bring about more general shipping contact between America and Cobh, we have not observed any particular success until this year. During the last four or five months the following steamship companies have made arrangements to open up connection between America and the Southern port:—The Hamburg-American line, beginning operations in July; the Canadian-Pacific, which is beginning directly; the Cunard line, operating from Halifax; the United States line from New York. Then, of course, there will also be extra-ships of the White Star and Cunard Companies from New York. Deputies will remember the long-sustained agitation for the calling of American liners at Cobh, but we never saw any results from that agitation. When we find these different companies operating between America and Cobh we can attribute it to one fact, that we have supplied justification for the calling of these particular lines. We have provided the passengers. Prior to the opening of the games something like 25,000 people from the United States and Canada will take direct shipment to this country. That is why these lines are calling and are going to call in future. If we did nothing else but that, apart altogether from the considerable sum of money which foreigners must spend in the country, we have more than justified any expenditure incurred so far. It is of some importance to have foreigners coming here and spending money. We do not want to turn this country into a Switzerland. At the same time we feel we are justified because there are many Irish-Americans who, having made money, desire to return to the old land, settle down here, buy property, and help this country. That is actually what is occuring. Irish-Americans have come back to this country and are buying property. Apart altogether from the money spent by the usual excursionists, that is a very desirable development. I do not suppose anyone wishes to do anything to discourage that.
There is another feature in the games. It is no harm. I think, that some such organisation as the Tailteann Games should exist in all those countries where the Irish people are pretty numerous, if only for the purpose of giving them some neutral ground on which they can co-operate for the general upliftment of their race. The games provide neutral ground and an arena outside the contentious scope of politics. Through that channel we are hoping that our race will be more effective for the general good. In other words, it will bring harmony amongst the Irish race. We have not been unsuccessful in that respect. I would like to remind the Dáil that we have not been unsuccessful in our endeavours to bring about a more brotherly feeling amongst the Irish people, regardless of political or religious differences. Before the Games materialise we are hopeful that we may be even more successful. That, I think, is a development worthy of commendation. There are too many forces in this country moving in an opposite direction; too many forces out to cultivate the spirit of hatred and distrust. It is well, at any rate, that some big force should be brought to play which will work in the other direction.
I can again assure the Minister for Finance if it is necessary, that this loan will be repaid. We anticipate that the takings of the games will be pretty considerable so that we do not doubt our ability to justify our promise that this money will be repaid.