asked the Minister for Finance whether the Irish Banking Commission held any investigation into the so-called "adverse trade balance" or the total of all the financial and trading transactions between the Irish Free State and foreign countries comprising the "invisible" items of account, as well as the "visible" items as shown in the trade statistics issued by the Department of Industry and Commerce; and, if not, whether it has definitely advised the Government that such an investigation can safely be dispensed with prior to giving legislative effect to its recommendations on new banking and currency arrangements for the Irish Free State.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - SAORSTAT FOREIGN TRADING TRANSACTIONS.
The Banking Commission, I understand, gave due consideration, before formulating their proposals, to any effects that the adoption of their recommendations would be likely to have on the so-called adverse balance of trade.
Would the Minister answer the second portion of the question.
I have answered the whole question as far as I could.
The second portion of the question is as follows:—"Whether it has definitely advised the Government that such an investigation can safely be dispensed with prior to giving legislative effect to its recommendations." Have the Banking Commission recommended that the Currency proposals be proceeded with at present?
If the Deputy had read the first interim report he would see that it has.
I have read the first interim report, but I did not see that.