asked the Minister for Finance if he will state the amount of the money withheld from Britain in respect of all payments other than land annuities up to the 1st April, 1933; and to estimate the same for the period 1st April, 1933, to the 31st March, 1934.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Non-Land Annuities Payments Withheld From British.
The amount for the period up to 1st April, 1933, is £1,795,972 2s. 11d., and for the period 1st April, 1933, to 31st March, 1934, is estimated at £1,957,000.
These figures do not take account of British claims, amounting to £56,007 for the year 1932-33 and £53,608 for the year 1933-34, in respect of Post Office (pre-Treaty) pensions and annuities under the Telegraph Acts, 1892 to 1921. Credits in respect of these items have been claimed by the British Postal Authorities in their periodical cash adjustments with the Saorstát Postal Authorities, but, since the liability for the payments is in dispute, accounts containing such credits are being accepted without prejudice.
Would the Minister agree, therefore, that taxes on Irish products have brought in, not merely the Irish annuities, but £3½ million in addition?
In that connection, I would refer the Deputy to the British Parliamentary Reports in which he will see that a question was put by Mr. William Thorne asking if Mr. Thomas was aware whether the consumers in Great Britain had to pay the penal duties.
I should like to ask whether the Minister agrees with that, and I should like to know whether he would repeat what the reply was.
I am referring the Deputy to his spiritual home.
So that, the farmers have paid not merely the land annuities but almost £3½ million in addition.