asked the Minister for Finance if he will state the total amount of moneys invested on the 31st March, 1951, by the Central Bank in (a) British Government securities; (b) other British securities; (c) Irish Government securities; (d) other Irish securities, and (e) securities other than Irish or British securities.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Security Investments.
The available particulars of the assets held by the Central Bank are contained in the accounts of the bank for the year ended 31st March, 1951, presented to Dáil Éireann in July last and in the report of that body presented in October. As stated by my predecessor in office, in reply to a question by Deputy. Hickey on 23rd November, 1949, the administration of the assets of the Central Bank is at the statutory discretion of the board of the bank.
Is the Minister not going to reply to the remainder of the question? I have asked the Minister how much of the money held by the Central Bank is invested in Ireland or Irish Government securities. Am I to take it that the answer is "None"?
The Deputy may look both to the report of the Central Bank and the accounts of the bank. He will get all the information there.
And that report says there are no investments in Ireland. Am I right in that?
May I remind the Deputy that he was once arrogating unto himself the functions of the Minister for Finance and he ought now to be able to answer these questions for himself.
I have asked the Minister to reply to the question. I ask him again does he deny that the Central Bank has not one penny invested in Ireland?
I have nothing to add to what I have already said.
(Interruptions.)
Why conceal the information?
I am not concealing anything. I have nothing to add to the information I have already given.
Why do you conceal that information?
I will not give a half-truth.
Is there one penny invested in Ireland?
This is just something to mislead the public.(Interruptions.)
Order! Question No. 13.
There is not one penny invested in Ireland.