asked the Minister for Finance whether he is aware that an award of £102,500 was confirmed by the German Government on the 15th September, 1924, to the Limerick Steam Ship Company, Ltd., Limerick, and that no payment has been received so far by the Company; whether he is aware that in similar circumstances British claimants are being paid on the basis of fifteen shillings in the pound within six weeks of the award, and, further, whether he has any information to give regarding the position of Saorstát claimants against the German Government.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - CLAIMS AGAINST GERMAN GOVERNMENT.
SEAMUS O LEADAIN
I am not in a position to state with authority whether the facts of this case are as stated in the first two parts of the question. The Clearing Office at London is the only channel available under the Treaty of Versailles for the settlement of claims of Nationals of Saorstát Eireann against Germany as provided by the Treaty. The extent to which, if at all, the Government of Saorstát Eireann should assume any responsibility in this matter has been the subject of protracted correspondence with the British Government, and as all material points appear now to have been fully explored, it is hoped that a settlement of the matters at issue may be reached immediately.
Could the Minister state whether it is the British Clearing House that will pay off this debt, or will it be the Saorstát Department of Finance?
It will be the Clearing Officer.