asked the President whether his attention has been called to a report in the Press of 3rd November, 1926, to the effect that it is no secret that a certain world-renowned German firm made a tempting offer for Haulbowline Dockyard but the deal was vetoed by the British Authorities; whether such report is correct; whether any offer for this dockyard, or any portion of it has been made to the Saorstát Government since March, 1922, and whether the British Authorities have at any time since this date interfered with, or protested against, the leasing of the place to any firm for commercial or industrial purposes.
CEISTEANNA.—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - HAULBOWLINE DOCKYARD.
The report that a German firm has made an offer for Haulbowline Dockyard and that the deal has been vetoed by the British Authorities is not correct. No definite offer for this dockyard, or any portion of it, with the exception of two small oil tanks, has been made to the Government since 1922, and there has been no question of interference by the British Authorities with the letting of the place.