I move:—
That a sum not exceeding £13,300 be granted to complete the sum necessary to defray the Charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of March, 1943, for Secret Service.
Committee on Finance. - Vote 18—Secret Service.
Could the Minister tell us anything about the administration of this Vote?
No, Sir.
I realise this is the kind of Vote that will be presented to the House by every Government that is in office or comes into office, whether in normal times or during an emergency period, but I can tell the Minister that the members of this Party are not going to vote for this with any great enthusiasm. I listened some time ago to statements being made to myself and other colleagues about the administration of this Vote. Statements were made to us, not by members of the Labour Party but by people who were actively associated with the Fianna Fáil Party inside the last five years. It would do no good to repeat the statements in this House, at this particular period in any case, and if I made the statements, I admit I could not prove them. I should like the Minister to give us some information as to the total sum spent last year out of the money voted by this House for this service, and as to what percentage was paid by the Army and by the Guards.
Through the Department of Justice a total of £4,033 was paid, and through the Department of Defence a total of £4,319.
What was the total expenditure?
£10,639.
What was the total sum voted?
£20,000, the same as this year.
Vote put and agreed to.