asked the Minister for Finance whether he will state with reference to the Agricultural Credit Corporation (a) the amount of the advances made by the corporation in each year since its establishment; (b) the amount of capital repayments received by the corporation in each such year; (c) the total amount written off as bad debt since the establishment of the corporation; (d) what amount, if any, of the outstandings shown in the corporation's latest balance sheet is regarded by the directors as bad of doubtful.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Agricultral Credit Corporation.
The information required by the Deputy relates to details of the work being performed by the Agricultural Credit Corporation. The corporation, not being a Government Department, but a limited liability company operating under the Companies Acts, I cannot undertake to answer questions concerning its day-to-day administration, and I cannot, accordingly, deal with the question asked. I can only suggest that the Deputy should apply personally to the board of the corporation, who may be willing to furnish him with the particulars he requires.
Is the Minister conscious of the fact that the question asked by me does not concern the day-to-day administration, and, in view of the fact that the State is heavily interested in this corporation, does he not think that the public are entitled to the information for which I have asked?
I think that the Deputy is under some misconception, a rather common one, as to the functions of the corporation and the responsibility of the Government in regard to it. The Government are responsible for having established the body, but the majority of the share are not held by the Government, and most of the information asked for can be secured by a shareholder at the annual meetings of the company.
The State guaranteed £500,000 in the first place; is not that right? In addition to that, may I ask what proportion of the actual share capital is held by the State?
I am afraid I shall have to have notice of both those questions.