asked the President if he will state if there is any record of a Decree of Dáil Eireann prohibiting the payment of Land Annuities; if so, will he state the dates of its passage through Dáil Eireann and of its promulgation to the country, and if he will cause a copy of it to be placed in the Library for the information of Deputies.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Payment of Land Annuities.
From the search made since the Deputy gave notice of the question, there appears to be no copy of any such decree amongst the records of my Department.
Is the President aware that the counsel who advised Fianna Fáil in this matter have committed themselves to the statement that "the prohibition by Dáil Eireann of the payment of the annuities is a factor to be considered in interpreting the Treaty"?
I am not aware of anything of the kind.
Would the President consider getting out a Document No. 2 of these things as well as of everything else?
I do not know what the document is that is referred to.
The document referred to is the one issued in the names of Gerald Boland and Oscar Traynor as the Fianna Fáil case for the retention of the annuities. It makes that as one of the specific pleas which the seven counsel, whose opinion was asked, stand for.
I know nothing about the matter.
The President is not repudiating the seven counsel?
I know nothing about the matter, and I have not examined the document.
But the President, after examination, has not been able to get the decree?
I have not any decree.
That is good enough.
In view of the importance of the matter, and the fact that the authority of Dáil Eireann is spoken of, would the President undertake to ask the seven lawyers who gave an opinion whether they made a search for the document and if they found one, and if not, what is the reference to?
I would want to see first of all if it is in the opinion.
"We may add that the state of Ireland in the years 19201921, the Anglo-Irish war, the prohibition by Dáil Eireann of the payment of the annuities," etc., "are strong factors to be considered in interpreting the Treaty." If the rest of the opinion is as sound as that, apparently it is not worth much.
I know nothing about it.