asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether his attention has been called to the recent Press announcement that five Irish shipping companies have been registered in England and that the registered address of those companies is 6 Spring Gardens, London, S.W.; that the companies referred to are: (1) City of Cork Steam Packet Company, Ltd., present capital £280,000 in £2 shares; (2) Michael Murphy, Ltd. (to take over the business of the Steamship Proprietors, owned by M. Murphy, at Dublin, Cardiff, Swansea, and elsewhere), nominal capital £10,000 in £10 shares; (3) British and Irish Steam Packet Company, Ltd., nominal capital £3,000,000, £1 shares (half ordinary shares, half preference); (4) Dublin General Steam Shipping Company, Ltd., nominal capital £50,000 in £10 shares; and (5) Dundalk and Newry Steam Packet Company, Ltd., nominal capital £70,500 in £5 shares, and whether he can state if any or all of those companies have yet registered their companies and their vessels in the Saorstát.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - IRISH SHIPPING COMPANIES.
I am aware that a Press announcement on the lines indicated in the Deputy's question recently appeared, but I have no official knowledge of companies registered in England. All the vessels belonging to the British and Irish Steam Packet Company and the City of Cork Steam Packet Company are registered at ports in An Saorstát. Some of the vessels owned by Michael Murphy, Ltd., and the Dundalk and Newry Steam Packet Company are registered at ports in An Saorstát and some are registered at ports in Great Britain. The Dublin General Steam Shipping Company is not shown in Lloyd's register as owning any vessels.