asked the Minister for Finance if he will state the total cost of administration of the Central Bank in each of the last four years.
9.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Central Bank: Reserves and Cost of Administration.
8.
Mr. Ryan
Mr. Ryan
asked the Minister for Finance if he will state the amount of the general and currency reserves of the Central Bank on the latest available date and on the same date in 1956, 1957, 1958 and 1959.
I propose with your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, to take Questions Nos. 8 and 9 together.
I would refer the Deputy to the Statement of Accounts of the Central Bank, presented annually to the Dáil pursuant to section 35 (2) of the Currency Act, 1927, as adapted by section 11 (1) of the Central Bank Act, 1942. No more recent figures are available to me than those given in the Statement in respect of the year ended 31st March, 1959.
Mr. Ryan
May I ask why there is this reluctance to give straightforward answers to straightforward questions in relation to the Central Bank? When a Deputy puts down a straightforward question on any other matter, even though the statistics or figures may be available, the answer is given. Why is there secrecy in connection with the Central Bank?
The Deputy does not know what he is talking about. I do not want to delay the House in giving a page of figures which he can get from the Library himself.
Mr. Ryan
It is a well-known tradition that a person has a right to have these figures published in the columns of the Official Report.
It is not. Deputies are often referred to publications that they are expected to read.
Ministers should answer questions.
We do answer them.
You are afraid to answer them.
Who is afraid to answer them?
Why do you not answer them?