asked the Minister for Finance whether he is aware that people boarding the tender at Cobh to meet passengers coming to this country are greatly inconvenienced by having to leave on shore any currency which they may have in their possession, since there are no facilities available at Cobh for receiving this money, and if he will arrange that it will suffice that the persons concerned make a declaration as to the amount of currency in their possession.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Currency Regulations.
It is of high importance to our foreign exchange position to prevent the irregular introduction of any currency which is subject to import restrictions. During the last few months there have been several cases which gave rise to grave suspicion that tourists arriving at Cobh from America have passed prohibited currency to friends who have put out from Cobh by tender to greet them on arrival, with the hope that such friends can, on the return journey from the liner, bring in the currency without difficulty. Clearly if this practice is continued, all persons disembarking from the tender, not merely tourists but also their Irish friends, would have to be subjected to customs examination, thus increasing clearance difficulties. To avoid this efforts were made to have the amount of currency carried by persons visiting liners marked on their shore passes. This was found unsatisfactory and an attempt has now been made to ensure that such persons will deposit their currency in safe keeping before embarking on the tender. Some form of control is clearly necessary and the Revenue Commissioners are investigating the matter to see if any alternative and better scheme can be found. It may be found necessary to insist on restricting facilities for visitors to liners, but efforts will be made to avoid such restriction.
Will the Parliamentary Secretary ensure that some facilities are provided for those people to enable them to deposit their money? At present people coming there have to go around Cobh, sometimes as early as 6 o'clock in the morning, and ask people there if they would take whatever money they have on them—people coming, for instance, from the country to visit their friends. There is no place in Cobh. Will the Parliamentary Secretary see that such facilities are provided?
I shall bring the Deputy's suggestion to the notice of the Revenue Commissioners.