asked the Minister for Finance if he will state the present market value, if any, of the Russian jewels stated by the then Taoiseach during the recent General Election campaign to be in possession of the Government and what it is proposed to do with them.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - The Russian Jewels.
asked the Minister for Finance if he will state whether the Russian jewels mentioned during the recent General Election campaign are now in the custody of the present Government; and, if so, is it his intention to investigate their origin and the amount paid for them.
I propose, with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, to take questions Nos. 31 and 32 together. The jewels referred to are in the possession of my Department. There is nothing to indicate their origin beyond the fact that they were handed over as security for a loan of $20,000 made in April, 1920, to a representative of the Russian Soviet Republic in the United States. The jewels are described in the receipt given for them as being worth $25,500. I propose to have the jewels valued and, after valuation, to consider whether and in what manner they should be disposed of for the benefit of the Exchequer.