Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 30 Mar 2000

Vol. 517 No. 2

Written Answers. - Gifts to the State.

Ruairí Quinn

Question:

17 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Finance the precedents, if any, which exist for placing funds at the disposal of a Department of State other than a Minister of the Government; whether his Department has been vested for these purposes with legal capacity to accept a gift of property, either subject to conditions or otherwise, to hold such property and to enter into contractual commitments in relation to such property; if not, the arrangements to be put in place to enable his Department to draw down, hold and otherwise deal with funds made available to it by a person (details supplied) in relation to the national stadium project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7806/00]

Seán Ryan

Question:

23 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for Finance whether it is his understanding that the placing of funds at the disposal of his Department by a person (details supplied), on terms which have been made public, is intended as a gift by the donor to the nation, the people or the State; if so, whether the Government has decided to accept that gift; if so, in which State authority that gift has been vested by decision of the Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7805/00]

Seán Ryan

Question:

61 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for Finance if he regards the arrangements set out in the letter assignation from a company (details supplied) and placed in the Oireachtas Library, as a gift of property to which the State Property Act, 1954, applies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7050/00]

Minister for Finance (Mr. McCreevy)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 17, 23 and 61 together.

Section 19 of the State Property Act, 1954, deals with gifts of property being made to the State, the nation or the people. Where such a gift of property is made the decision to accept or refuse the gift is one for the Government. If such a gift is accepted it is a matter for the Government to determine the State authority in whom the gift should vest.

In response to the offer of a contribution of £50 million towards the financing and development of Campus and Stadium Ireland, the Government decided, pursuant to the State Property Act, 1954, to accept the offer as a gift to the State and, as required by section 19(3) of the Act, determined that the gift should be vested in An Taoiseach, as the appropriate State authority. I should make it clear, therefore, that the funds have not been placed at the disposal of my Department.

The arrangements for the drawdown of the funds by the Department of the Taoiseach are set out in the letter of assignation between a bank and the Department, a copy of which has been laid before the Dáil. Deputies will note that the letter of assignation is very specific that the money offered is to be used solely in or towards financing and developing the stadium.