asked the Minister for Justice if he will request the Accountant of the High Court to have published a list giving the following particulars of the unclaimed funds in Court at the present time: (a) the title and record number of each suit or matter, (b) the names and addresses of the parties, (c) the names and addresses of the parties to whose separate credit each of the sums is lodged, and (d) the amount to credit of each account at 3rd March, 1959.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Unclaimed Court Funds.
20.
A list of the accounts in relation to unclaimed funds giving the title of the cause or matter is published every three years in Iris Oifigiúil pursuant to a Rule of Court. The latest list appeared in the issue of the 18th December, 1956, and the next is due for publication later this year. It is not the practice to give any information respecting any funds in court mentioned in such list to any person other than a person who appears to be beneficially interested or a solicitor who is acting for such person.
In view of the resolution on the Order Paper, No. 5 on the present Order Paper, may we assume that before that falls to be dealt with by Dáil Éireann there will be a publication in respect of 1959 of the kind of material that was made available in Iris Oifigiúil in 1956?
That is a separate matter.
The Minister explained that this is a triennial publication. He is about to move a resolution to indemnify the State against claims that may arise consequent on the Government using these funds for certain purposes. Will the triennial statement, due this year, be advanced far enough, if necessary, so as to make it available to Dáil Éireann if and when they come to consider the Minister's resolution relating to these funds?
It does not seem to arise relevantly in regard to the question on the Order Paper.
The Minister says he has not the information. It is given triennially——
It is published every three years in Iris Oifigiúil. It will be published at the end of this year.
Would it be possible to bring forward the publication due on 31st December, 1959, and to give us figures, at the latest available date, prior to the introduction of the Minister's resolution which is on the Order Paper relating to these funds? Perhaps the Minister would consider it.
I have not the responsibility for that. The Accountant of the Courts of Justice would be responsible for getting out that list. I have no doubt that if the Deputy refers to the list issued about 2½ years ago he will see there all the necessary information. I doubt if there would be very much change in the list he would be referring to as compared with the list that would be issued at the end of the year.