asked the Minister for Finance whether he has had a request from the City of London, Ontario, Canada, for the statue of Queen Victoria, recently removed from the front of Leinster House; if he will state the terms under which he will agree to the disposal of the statue and whether the request referred to included an undertaking to pay all costs of shipment; finally, if he will notify the applicants of the conditions under which he will dispose of the statue.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Statue of Queen Victoria.
An inquiry has been received from the council of the City of London, Ontario, as to the terms upon which the statue would be made available for placing in one of their public parks. A decision on this offer is likely to be taken at an early date and the city council will then be informed of the terms on which the statue will be made available. While these terms have yet to be definitely determined, they may be expected to include provision that no expenditure in connection with the transfer would fall on Irish public funds; the communication from the city council did not include any reference to shipment costs.
Would the Minister indicate his reply to the people who made the inquiry?
When we have the terms, yes.
The Minister has not said when he hopes to be able to give a decision, but, as a matter of courtesy, would the Minister indicate his reply to the inquiries in the event of his decision being delayed for some time? With regard to his statement that he has no information as to the City of London being prepared to pay shipment costs, I am prepared to send him a document in which they say they are.
The only document I have does not refer to it.
Will the Minister accept now as a fact that they are prepared to pay shipment costs?
I do not know whether the Deputy can produce evidence that he is an agent for the council of the City of London.
I am not an agent, but I can produce the evidence I refer to. Is the Minister aware that that information came to the Dublin Corporation?
The only information which came to the Dublin Corporation contained no reference to shipment costs.
Oh, yes.
No. The letter which the ex-lord mayor got contained no reference to shipping costs. I am positive about that.
They said that they would pay all expenses.
There was no reference to expenses in the letter which came to the ex-lord mayor.
Tell them the conditions on which you will give it to them.
The Deputy has said that there was such a reference. There was none.