asked the Minister for External Affairs if he will state the names of the countries with which Ireland has entered into treaties or agreements to afford special facilities to non-nationals to purchase property in this State and the dates on which these treaties or agreements were signed.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Purchase of Land by Non-Nationals.
Section 3 of the Aliens Act, 1935, provides that, subject to law, all non-Irish nationals without exception may acquire, hold and dispose of real property in Ireland to the same extent as Irish nationals.
No special facilities have been afforded by treaty or agreement to any class of non-Irish nationals to purchase property in the State. Only two international agreements have been made by Ireland with foreign states dealing with the right of aliens to acquire real property in this country, namely, the Treaty of Commerce and Navigation with Germany ratified on the 21st December, 1931, and the Treaty of Friendship, Commerce and Navigation with the United States signed on the 21st January, 1950, but not yet ratified. These agreements, which are of reciprocal nature, merely confirm the rights given by the Aliens Act and do not add to them.
Does the Minister not feel that it would be desirable to bring to the notice of those who are anxious to confiscate property held by non-nationals in various parts of the country the rights that they have under the Aliens Act?
There is hardly any suggestion of confiscation arising in this question or out of the reply that I have given to the Deputy. As a matter of fact, far from the question of confiscation being involved, non-Irish nationals are compelled to pay an additional tax if they purchase Irish land.