asked the Minister for Finance if he can state whether a discharge has been effected by his Department of the claim of the Clare County Council in respect of (a) garnishee orders obtained against them, and (b) decrees paid on foot of the Malicious and Criminal Injuries Acts to person and property during the years 1919 and 1920; and whether, in view of the Articles of Agreement of the 3rd December, 1925, between the respective Governments of Saorstát Eireann and Great Britain, the difficulty of the apportionment of liability referred to by the Minister on November 12th, 1925, has been obviated, and, further, if he will state how much of the original claim of £10,014 2s. 2d. has been disallowed.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL CLAIMS.
The answer to the first and second parts of the question is in the negative. In my reply to the Deputy's question in regard to this matter on the 12th November last, I explained that the claim of the Clare County Council formed part of a complicated adjustment with the British Government. This adjustment has not yet been completed, but it is practically certain that it will be completed before the end of the current financial year. The claim of the Clare County Council is mainly in respect of personal injuries decrees paid by them, and, accordingly, as there is no reference in the Agreement of the 3rd December, 1925, to personal injuries compensation, the necessity of an adjustment with the British Government in this matter still exists.
In regard to the last part of the question, no part of the claim of the Clare County Council has as yet been disallowed, and it is not possible to state at this stage the exact amount which the Council will be entitled to receive.