Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 25 Aug 1921

Vol. S No. 6

ESTIMATE FOR DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

MINISTER FOR FINANCE

said he had been asked to give the items of Foreign Affairs Department's Estimate. Details were: France £2,700; Germany £1,000; Spain £800; Italy £2,500; London £2,000; U.S.A. £20,000; Switzerland £800; Argentine £750; Chile £500; special amount for P.J. Little of £1,000; for L. Ginnell £1,000; making a total of £33,050. There was provision made for general contingencies of £10,000. He might explain that there was the utmost difficulty on the part of the Foreign Affairs Department in making out the estimate. The figure for the U.S.A. was an approximation. Total £43,050. In addition to that there were six items for the Head Office: Salaries of staff £12,000¹, Minister's allowance £250, stationery £74, rent, etc., £85, miscellaneous £115. Contingencies £926 making a total of £45,700.

1. This apparently should read £1,200.

SEÁN MACENTEE

asked how was it proposed to spend the £20,000 allocated to U.S.A.

PRESIDENT

replied that he had not got the figures now. They had in America first of all Frank P. Walsh's office where they had the representatives, a secretary and a small staff. That was really a propaganda department from which was issued publications like the address to the foreign nations and a lot of work of that kind. He said it was very hard to understand the cost of things there. Take the cost of living, 100 dollars a week was as little as a person could live on here [recte there], so they could realise what money values were. With the cost for consul and the representatives and the office itself £20,000 was necessary. In fact they had a great deal of trouble when they tried to cut it down to that figure.

SEÁN MACENTEE

said all this £20,000 seemed to be for political purposes.

PRESIDENT

explained he had already pointed out that the new organisation being set up in U.S.A. would soon be able to do all the work done by the commission before. A great deal of it was being done already, but they could not build up an organisation within a few months and get from it all the activities they required. The commission when he was there before had to bear the expense of all the propaganda work.

SEÁN MACENTEE

said he did not want to seem captious about this matter but he would ask the President to remember that the total actually expended upon all the foreign activities amount to £1,200 for the last half-year and the estimate now submitted is £45,000 of which they were told £20,000 was to be expended on political work. He submitted they should have some particulars of that. He would also point out that the financial position of the Dáil was not too satisfactory. Estimates for the coming half-year provided for an expenditure of £228,000 while the total balance at home was only £255,000. In former votes there had been certain provision made for Defence. There was a possibility they might not get money from America. He suggested it would be in form that a detailed estimate should be tabled.

MINISTER FOR FINANCE

pointed out there was a statement here in his report that these details could be got if notice was given. These details were available. There was no difference in the Ministry of Finance between funds whether they were kept in Ireland, France, England or America. The amount for Defence was shown clearly in his report; the Department had a balance in its favour that covered its estimate for the coming six months.

PRESIDENT

said he would like to make a few points clear. It was said there was a great increase in the amount for America. They would remember the Dáil put half a million dollars at his disposal to do the propaganda work necessary in America. Until such time as they were satisfied that the new organisation was ready they would have to do the work themselves.