asked the Minister for Finance why the sum of £200,000 appears as a charge against Exchequer tax revenue for the year 1951-52 in the recently published Estimates for Public Services, 1952-53 (Vote 27, sub-head M (10), in view of the Government's decision to defray whatever charge might come in course of payment in the financial year 1951-52 in respect of this service out of the $1,000,000 grant counterpart moneys, pursuant to the project put forward by the Government to the E.C.A. and publicly endorsed by Mr. Millar, E.C.A. Administrator in Ireland, early in 1951.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Counterpart Fund.
Projects involving the utilisation of grant counterpart require the approval of the United States Government in accordance with the provisions of Article IV of the Economic Co-operation Agreement between Ireland and the United States of America. Approval has not yet been obtained for the use of grant counterpart for the payment of ground limestone subsidy and, accordingly, the cost of the scheme in 1951/52 has fallen directly upon the Exchequer. Approval of the scheme by the United States authorities will enable the cost to be recovered from grant counterpart, which will be brought to account as an Extra Exchequer Receipt. Acceptance of the project by the United States authorities will not obviate the necessity for making provision for it in the Estimate for Agriculture, as has been done in the 1952/53 Volume of Estimates.
Can the Minister tell the House when the approval of the United States Government, through the E.C.A., was sought for this project by the present Government or its predecessor?
That is a separate question.
I want to know why an item of £200,000 is made to appear in the Book of Estimates as a charge against tax revenue in respect of the year 1951-52. The answer is that the United States Government has not yet consented to make available money which would render the insertion of this charge in that place unnecessary. I am asking the Minister, and I think I am entitled to know, whether the failure to get that approbation from the United States Government is due to any laziness on our part or any dilatoriness on the part of the United States E.C.A. administration. Further, in view of the legislation of January 8th passed by the United States Congress terminating E.C.A., is it now possible to get the consent of E.C.A. to the project submitted by the Irish Government inasmuch as E.C.A. is no longer in existence? Will the Minister tell us that?
I have answered the Deputy's question fully. If he requires any further information on the matter, he will obtain it when he puts down a question in due course.
May I ask the Minister, if he has not yet received the approbation of the United States Government referred to in his answer, when does he expect to receive it?
I cannot possibly forecast when the American Congress will act in a matter of this kind.
Can the Minister forecast to the House when he anticipates he will ultimately receive it?
We had a sorry example of forecasting when the Deputy promised to drown the British in eggs.
Are we to understand from the Minister's remark that nothing can happen in this matter now unless the United States Congress takes action?
I do not know whether or not anything can happen. I am not Divine Providence.
Are we to understand from the Minister that this money cannot now be made available without definite action on the part of the United States Congress?
That would appear to be the case.
Is it not a fact that the Minister and the Government did not put in the returns in time and as a result the Irish people have lost 18,000,000 dollars?
Interruptions.
Order. Question No. 14.
Deputy Sweetman had better give up pretending to be a cuckoo sitting in a mare's nest.
Question No. 14.
If Deputy MacEntee as Minister for Finance did his job we would have the money.
Question No. 14.