asked the Minister for External Affairs if he is aware that the amount collected by the British on our exports of live stock, agricultural and other products for the four complete years, 1933-1937, amounted to £19,372,435; and if, seeing that the aggregate of the "withheld moneys" for the same period amounted to £19,309,668, showing a surplus of £62,767 in favour of Britain, any steps will be taken to seek a refund of the sum "over-collected"; and if he will ensure when making any further trade agreements on the style of the Coal-Cattle Pact, that Britain will take only the amount of the "withheld moneys" and nothing more.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Refund of Over-collected British Tariffs.
While not accepting the accuracy of the figures cited by the Deputy, or the conclusion which he has drawn, I can assure him that neither the financial nor other interests of Saorstát Eireann have been or will be overlooked in any agreement entered into by the Government.