asked the President whether the Irish Free State delegates to the Ottawa Conference next month intend to embark at Belfast and if he can state why that port of embarkation was chosen in preference to the ports of Cobh or Galway.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Ottawa Conference.
The Saorstát delegates to the Ottawa Conference will embark at Belfast. It was considered desirable that the delegates should reach the Canadian capital some time in advance of the opening of the Conference. The liner was selected which would enable this to be done most conveniently.
Arising out of the President's reply, might I ask whether he is aware that the choice of Belfast as a port of departure might have an injurious effect on ports in the Saorstát —on the companies using them?
I do not think it will have any effects such as the Deputy anticipates.