asked the Minister for Finance if he will state whether currency notes and bank notes circulating in this country are printed in London; whether prior to the establishment of the Currency Commission certain Irish banks printed their own notes and employed a staff for this purpose and if he will also state the grounds on which the Central Bank of Ireland is now permitted to transfer its printing operations to foreign firms.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Currency and Bank Notes.
Responsibility for the arrangements for the provision of legal tender notes and consolidated bank notes rests by statute with the Central Bank which attaches importance to keeping such arrangements confidential. I understand that the employment aspect of the matter is of slight consequence compared with other considerations. The associated banks which formerly had note issues do not appear to have printed their own notes, except in one instance.