asked the Minister for Finance the results to date of action taken to recover that portion of funds voted for the relief of the distressed of Northern Ireland which is believed not to have been expended for that purpose.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Northern Ireland Relief Fund.
33.
Officers of my Department, with the assistance of the Department of Foreign Affairs, made several visits to Germany to recover moneys paid to an arms dealer in West Germany. They interviewed a number of persons who there was reason to believe could be of assistance in tracing and possibly recovering some of the missing moneys. Inquiries made by them established certain facts which were reported to the Attorney General.
Matters of German as well as Irish law arise in connection with the recovery of the moneys paid in West Germany. The Attorney General informs me that he expects the legal position under German law to be clarified at an early date. When these matters have been resolved, I will make a statement to the House.
In relation to funds collected in Northern Ireland at the time a former Taoiseach—Mr. Costello——
Are we going to hear a question or a statement?
——made a statement that we were going to hit Britain in her pride and in her pocket. The Government at that time——
This is highly irrelevant and I do not think Deputies should refer to what the Chair has determined as irrelevancies.
——set up the Mansion House fund which realised £57,000——
I have already told the Deputy that this is highly irrelevant and that I am calling the next question.
The expenditure was never published and we do not know how that money was distributed.
That was not spent on guns and it is disgraceful that Deputy Lemass should mention that now. It is disgraceful that the Deputy should mention that.
Order.
Will the Minister state whether he has traced all the mis-spent money; will he state where are the guns and ammunition which were bought and will he state have they since been sold and, if so, who has the money obtained for them?
There have been very thorough and exhaustive inquiries into the whereabouts of funds voted by Oireachtas Éireann for humanitarian purposes in Northern Ireland which were not devoted to that purpose. Our investigations established that a very substantial sum was misapplied for the purchase of arms in Germany and for their transportation and subsequent storage. It appears that most of the arms purchased, which were not seized at the time of their attempted importation here have since been resold abroad. The Deputy will appreciate that it would be inappropriate for me to make any further statement at this stage lest it might prejudice criminal and civil proceedings against persons in Ireland, or Germany, in respect of their deeds in this very sorry episode.