I move:—
"That a sum not exceeding £7,500 be granted to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of March, 1925, to provide for an advance to the Tailteann Council in respect of Aonach Tailteann."
COMMITTEE ON FINANCE. - AONACH TAILTEANN.
Mr. CAHILL
Before this Vote is passed I wish to draw the attention of the responsible parties and the Deputies to the manner in which this handbook has been compiled. The chief reason, I understand, in publishing this book is to supply information concerning the Games to the many thousand visitors who are expected to visit this country during the month of August. The compilers have taken on themselves the burden of supplying historical information. Such information is inadequate, inaccurate, and not in harmony with the national sentiments of our people. We are assured, in a note inserted after the publication of this book, that "the General Council of Aonach Tailteann take no responsibility for anything in this handbook except the information directly relating to the competitions." That announcement may satisfy the General Council, but I hold it should not satisfy us. I will crave your indulgencé whilst I briefly go through portion of this handbook, and I promise not to read the advertisements if you allow me to proceed uninterrupted. On page 135 we find a list of committees. Many of the names are familiar, and I have not much to say about that.
Will the Deputy distribute copies of the book?
Mr. CAHILL
Every Deputy, I presume, has received a copy. It came through the post to me. Turning to page 163, we find under "General Information" a list of the principal churches. The first page is devoted to the Episcopalian Church. Now the vast majority of the people of this country are Catholics, and yet we find the list of Catholic churches relegated to a secondary position, and dismissed with a total of seven. What impression will this create in the mind of visitors to the Aonach? Turning to page 167, we find under the heading "The Castle of Dublin": "The south side of the Upper Court Yard contains the State apartments of the Lord Lieutenant." It contains no such thing. Very interesting reading! On page 171 there is this reference to the City Hall: "Occupied by the Dublin Corporation for their meetings." When was it occupied by the Corporation? I need not ask when it will be occupied by the Corporation. Only the Minister for Local Government can answer that question. O'Connell Street is dismissed with these words: "It was here that some of the fiercest fighting took place." Not one word about the signatories to the Proclamation of Easter Week, 1916. The National Gallery of Ireland is thus referred to: "One of the best collections in the kingdom." What kingdom? On page 177 we find the Royal Hospital of Kilmainham referred to as "The Chelsea of Ireland." It is regrettable that we cannot get rid of the slavish habit of naming our health resorts and places of interest after similiar places across the Channel. I can understand titles appearing in Deputy Hewat's railway, posters, such as "Bray, the Brighton of Ireland," and "Kilmainham, the Chelsea of Ireland," but one never expected to see them in a handbook on the Tailteann Games.
On page 181, "Phoenix Park," the principal places and objects of interest are:—"Viceregal Lodge, the Wellington Testimonial, the Civic Guard Barracks, Ordnance Survey Works, cricket and polo grounds." I am certain that the Postmaster-General, who is a patron of the G.A.A., will be surprised to hear that our only national games are cricket and polo. Of course it leaves the Magazine Fort out of it altogether. Bad memories are associated with a place of that kind. In the article on Howth no reference was made to the Abbey of Howth, which the late Dr. Joyce, in his book, "The Neighbourhood of Dublin," describes as the most interesting object in the town from an antiquarian point of view. It is not mentioned that there is a record of King Criffan's return from an expedition abroad, and of his death at his Fort at Dun Criffan, Ben Edar, in the year 9 A.D., and there is no reference to the origin of the name, Ben Edar, and no reference to Aideen's Grave, but we are informed that George IV. landed here on August 4th, 1821. On page 195 we find: "Kingstown—originally called Dunleary; named Kingstown in 1831 in honour of the visit of George IV., who made this his point of embarkation for England, a small obelisk marking the spot." So it is still "Kingstown." Now I wonder what authorities were consulted by the Committee responsible for supplying this information to the public? Did they ever hear of the late Dr. Joyce's work concerning Dublin and its vicinity, or that excellent little handbook of the Rev. Dillon Cosgrave, entitled, "The History of North County Dublin," published by the Catholic Truth Society at 1s. 6d. or 2s. per copy? In conclusion. I hope the Committee will withdraw this book from circulation. It is un-Irish, and will cersolutely Seoinin product, and will certainly create false impressions in the minds of many visitors to our country. Finally, I would like to assure the Committee that the Irish people have got beyond the stage when they were content to allow their country to be described as "a breakwater of England."
I want to add my quota to Deputy Cahill's complaint. I am not sure that the work he has been quoting from has been tabled, but owing to the kindness of the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs, I have become the possessor of a copy without paying for it. I looked at the section dealing with sports. I happen to be, not by merit, the vice-president of a golf club. I think they wanted a vice-president and trustee whom they could identify and who could not run away very easily. That golf club four years ago changed its name to the Dun Laoghaire Club. Looking at the orange-covered pamphlet from which Deputy Cahill has been reading to us, and examining the golf section, I thought at first that my club had been omitted altogether, but presently I found it there camouflaged as "Kingstown." I really do not know whether we are invited to vote for the circulation of this misleading and erroneous pamphlet, but if we are I should be very strongly inclined to oppose the vote. I take it that the funds we are asked to vote are funds for the getting up of the Games themselves and not for subsidiary—I shall not call them attractions, but activities. We are not giving the money. We are loaning the money. I want to ask the Minister for Finance have we a first charge on the gate receipts? Is the Minister for Finance going to send down Inland Revenue Inspectors to keep an eye on the receipts to see that we get our share? Because there was recently a libel action which suggested that there are very various differences of opinion as to the number of people who go into Croke Park. Also, has the Minister, as a condition of this advance, made a stipulation that the Entertainments Tax should be paid on the various entertainments? I think before we vote this money we are entitled to answers of these questions. I ask them in the most friendly spirit, but I think we have the right to know.
I happen to be fortunate enough to have a copy of this very interesting booklet that Deputy Cahill has read so many interesting extracts from this evening. I must say that my knowledge of Dublin and the surroundings is not so well up-to-date as Deputy Cahill's and I, perhaps, was not as critical of what is contained in the booklet. I do feel that Deputy Cahill is justified in bringing those points to the notice of those who are responsible for the issuing of the booklet.
Now, as regards the question of this advance in respect of the Tailteann Games, I must say that I look on the revival of these games as an event in our national life. They will be to the nation a part of its life in the future. And while some may question the advisability of even granting a loan to assist in the revival of these games, I would be inclined to think that it is a national duty that these games should be assisted and that the committee should be aided in bringing about their revival. And when we consider that what is being lent is £7,500, anyone who is in any way optimistic as to what the outcome of the games ought to be will agree that they will be worth much more to the nation in very many ways than £7,500; and even if the £7,500 were spent as an investment and not a loan at all it seems to me that it would be £7,500 very well spent. I do not know, if it were even a question of investing the money and if no return were to be claimed, that it would not be a very good investment. But no such claim is being made by the Tailteann Council. The revival of these games was decided on some years ago when the conditions were happier in this country. I hope the same conditions will prevail when the games are brought off. If this loan would be in any way of assistance to the committee in their efforts for the revival of the games, and would lead to the bringing of a better spirit to the country than has been exhibited for the past eighteen months or two years, this House will agree that even if this money were given as an investment it would be well spent.
I am afraid to pronounce the name of the games, it is pronounced in so many different ways. Some people call them the Dailthín Games. Whether that is because of the patronage of the Postmaster-General I do not know. There is one thing I do not find in the handbook that is so profuse in many other things. There is no stipulation as to a knowledge of Irish by people before they are allowed to compete in any of the Games. I think that if the spirit that animated those who took part in these games long ago is to be preserved, if we are to perpetuate that spirit, we should insist on a knowledge of Irish from everybody who takes part in the games. A knowledge of Irish should be insisted upon before they are allowed to enter or take part in the games.
It would appear to me that any persons who would take the trouble to look over this booklet would have, first of all, discovered that there were so many advertisements in it that they would not be disposed to read the subject-matter referred to by Deputy Cahill. I do think that if the advertisements are to be paid for on the ordinary scale we shall not have any reason to grumble about the cost of the booklet having to be met out of any advance from the loan given by the Dáil. In other words, I should imagine that the booklet would have more than paid for itself by the amount of money received for advertising purposes. I do think that the manner in which the Tailteann Games have been organised is bound to do some good to the country. It is the first attempt, at any rate, by any committee of any kind to induce visitors to come to this country for the past five or six years. We must recognise—and I think everybody will recognise—that the huge number of tourists who are likely to patronise the games, even though they may come from America, are bound to spend a considerable sum of money and that that money will find its way back to the farmers and to every section of the community that provides food for these visitors while they remain here. In that way I think the people responsible for the organisation of these games have rendered a service for which they are entitled to some gratitude from the people as a whole. I remember that in the Third Dáil, I think it was, £10,000 was given for the same purpose. I am informed—I am subject to correction in this—that the amount of money granted or advanced by way of loan amounts to, in or about, £20,000. I should like to know from the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs in what way this money has been expended. Has it been spent upon stands in Croke Park, or the improvement of the grounds? Has it been spent in the payment of organisers' expenses? Or has it been spent, for instance, in payment for the booklet which Deputy Cahill has so ably criticised?
I, at any rate, expect that the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs will disclaim, as far as he is personally concerned, all responsibility for the subject-matter of this particular booklet. I would like to know how the money already advanced has been spent, whether it has been all spent for organising purposes, and whether all the money already advanced by way of loan, or given as a grant, has been used up.
The total amount of money voted to the Tailteann Games, contrary to the many figures given in the Press and elsewhere, from the first Dáil to the present time, amounts to £6,500. The present sum of £7,500 is a loan which is a first charge on the takings of the games, and is re-payable, in addition, with five per cent. interest, which I think is the customary percentage for banks to charge. The General Council had the alternatives of securing this money from one of the banks or getting it in this way. I may say that there was a strong minority-feeling in favour of the former course. I myself favoured the latter course and I think that is the reason that this Dáil is discussing the loan of £7,500 to-night. represent every department of sport, that the Council of the Games, which represent every department of sport, music and literature in the country, do not feel themselves under any extraordinary compliment in getting this loan. I want to emphasise that. I must further say that I am rather inclined to think that they will very strongly resent some of the remarks made by Deputy Cooper here to-night. The people who constitute the various Councils of the Tailteann Games, not only here, but in many foreign countries, run into close on 2,000, all of them volunteer workers—men and women who devoted not only their time but their money to resurrecting this historic festival. I cannot let the occasion pass without expressing the belief that a great many of these will feel very resentful at the imputation contained in one of the remarks of Deputy Cooper to the effect that the gates will need special watching. That is the implication one might reasonably take from his remark. I think the Minister for Finance can feel assured that this loan will be quite secure in the hands of the General Council of the Games.
It is regrettable that a syllabus containing incorrect information should have been issued. In our desire to economise we offered the production of this little volume, which is concerned solely with the imparting of information to competitors, to public tender. A firm of repute here paid us what we consider a reasonable sum for the right of producing. It cost the Tailteann Council nothing; they made a profit on it. We made it clear to this company that we took responsibility only for that part of the material properly called a syllabus, dealing with the Games themselves, and anything else included in the book was on the responsibility of the producer. This fact is clearly stated in the fly-leaf attached to the cover, which every Deputy should have seen. If the outlook of a Catholic firm in Dublin—I use the word Catholic because it has been used in the introductory remarks of Deputy Cahill—should be so distorted as to give rise to comment on the part of another particular body, the Council of the Games refuse to take any responsibility. We refused to take responsibility for anything whatever contained in this book, except that part of the book relating to the syllabus. Let that be clear. This is not the official guide to the Tailteann Games. The official guide which is being produced will be carefully scrutinised by the body responsible for its production, and we hope that no material for offence will be included therein.
Apart from the historic side, I think, as Deputy Davin has said, the men and women who are working for the revival of these Games deserve some measure of gratitude from the people. The total cost to the nation so far, as I have said, has reached £6,500, and, as a matter of fact, it would have cost the nation nothing had not the civil strife of 1922 intervened to cause a postponement of the Games. Let us see what we have got for the expenditure. I would remind the Dáil of the fact that while there has been an agitation for a good part of a generation to bring about more general shipping contact between America and Cobh, we have not observed any particular success until this year. During the last four or five months the following steamship companies have made arrangements to open up connection between America and the Southern port:—The Hamburg-American line, beginning operations in July; the Canadian-Pacific, which is beginning directly; the Cunard line, operating from Halifax; the United States line from New York. Then, of course, there will also be extra-ships of the White Star and Cunard Companies from New York. Deputies will remember the long-sustained agitation for the calling of American liners at Cobh, but we never saw any results from that agitation. When we find these different companies operating between America and Cobh we can attribute it to one fact, that we have supplied justification for the calling of these particular lines. We have provided the passengers. Prior to the opening of the games something like 25,000 people from the United States and Canada will take direct shipment to this country. That is why these lines are calling and are going to call in future. If we did nothing else but that, apart altogether from the considerable sum of money which foreigners must spend in the country, we have more than justified any expenditure incurred so far. It is of some importance to have foreigners coming here and spending money. We do not want to turn this country into a Switzerland. At the same time we feel we are justified because there are many Irish-Americans who, having made money, desire to return to the old land, settle down here, buy property, and help this country. That is actually what is occuring. Irish-Americans have come back to this country and are buying property. Apart altogether from the money spent by the usual excursionists, that is a very desirable development. I do not suppose anyone wishes to do anything to discourage that.
There is another feature in the games. It is no harm. I think, that some such organisation as the Tailteann Games should exist in all those countries where the Irish people are pretty numerous, if only for the purpose of giving them some neutral ground on which they can co-operate for the general upliftment of their race. The games provide neutral ground and an arena outside the contentious scope of politics. Through that channel we are hoping that our race will be more effective for the general good. In other words, it will bring harmony amongst the Irish race. We have not been unsuccessful in that respect. I would like to remind the Dáil that we have not been unsuccessful in our endeavours to bring about a more brotherly feeling amongst the Irish people, regardless of political or religious differences. Before the Games materialise we are hopeful that we may be even more successful. That, I think, is a development worthy of commendation. There are too many forces in this country moving in an opposite direction; too many forces out to cultivate the spirit of hatred and distrust. It is well, at any rate, that some big force should be brought to play which will work in the other direction.
I can again assure the Minister for Finance if it is necessary, that this loan will be repaid. We anticipate that the takings of the games will be pretty considerable so that we do not doubt our ability to justify our promise that this money will be repaid.
On a point of personal explanation, I had no intention of offending the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs. I did not wish to make any imputation at all. If I wished to be offensive I could express my thoughts very much more fully. The only point I wish to make was that, while dealing with voluntary funds you might place the utmost confidence in voluntary workers. I would not ask the voluntary workers who are to decorate the streets of the city for the Tailteann Games to produce vouchers in return for my subscription. But when you are dealing with public funds you must adopt a more rigid standard and you must realize that your stewards are the public as a whole.
The point I wished to have cleared up is this question of the total amount voted for the Tailteann Games. It is quite clear the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs is under a misapprehension. In 1922-23, £10,000 was voted as a grant-in-aid, in respect of the improvement of Croke Park in connection with the Tailteann Games. There was voted as a grant-in-aid from Dáil Eireann funds in 1922 a sum of £6,500, which the Minister has referred to. There was also a loan made to the Gaelic Athletic Association, which sum is repayable and forms part of the assets vested in the Minister for Finance. Whatever we may say about the last loan of £7,700 voted from Dáil Eireann in 1922, presumably that will be in the same position as this £7,500 will be. The vote of £10,000 was distinctly for the purpose of the Tailteann Games. It may be that the Minister has in mind a different association, or that a new association is running the Tailteann Games project now. I do not know. The Dáil did vote £10,000 for the improvement of Croke Park in connection with the Tailteann Games, and we should not be under a wrong impression as to the actual sums voted out of the public funds for this purpose.
The £10,000 was voted for the purpose of making Croke Park fit for the Tailteann Games and was paid direct to the owners of Croke Park, the G.A.A. The Tailteann Council had no control over that. The £7,700 given to the Gaelic Athletic Association is secured by a deed of mortgage of some sort on Croke Park. This £7,500 will not, of course, be secured in that legal way. We have to depend upon the honour of the very respectable committee that have control of the Tailteann Games.
I want to say, in connection with Deputy Cooper's remarks, that our accounts have been duly audited by the Comptroller and Auditor-General. That point should be understood.
Question put, and agreed to.
Progress ordered to be reported.