andMr. Ryan asked the Minister for Finance who the owners of the new Abbey Theatre will be; and if he will state in view of the fact that the theatre is to be rebuilt with the assistance of public funds what steps will be taken to prevent the sale or use of the Theatre contrary to the national interest.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Rebuilding of Abbey Theatre.
18.
The owners of the new Abbey Theatre will be the National Theatre Society Ltd. In 1957, the Society entered into an agreement with the Minister for Finance whereby the Society cannot, without the written consent of the Minister, dispose of the new theatre or allow it to be used for any non-theatrical purpose. I have already given this information in reply to a similar question by the Deputies on 22 November last.
Mr. Ryan
Will the Minister say what sanctions he can impose, in the event of the Abbey Theatre being disposed of without his consent?
I will not sanction the sale.
Mr. Ryan
In what way is this agreement binding in law?
Would the Minister make it a condition that one or two nominees of his Department should be appointed as directors of the Abbey Theatre, seeing that we have supplied over £200,000 to them?
I have the right to appoint one director.
I think the Minister should have told us that. He never told us that until now and we have been asking this Question for the past two and a half years.
Surely that is not a question.