Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 20 Feb 1936

Vol. 60 No. 7

Committee on Finance. - Vote No. 74—Repayments to Contingency Fund.

Mr. MacEntee

I move:—

Go ndeontar suim ná raghaidh thar £805 chun íoctha an Mhuirir a thiocfaidh chun bheith iníoctha i rith na bliana dar críoch an 31adh lá de Mhárta, 1936, chun Roimh-íocanna Ilghnéitheacha áirithe d'aisíoc leis an gCiste Teagmhais.

That a sum not exceeding £805 be granted to defray the Charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending 31st March, 1936, for the Repayment to the Contingency Fund of certain Miscellaneous Advances.

The details set forth on the face of the Estimate are the customary items which arise on this Estimate.

Mr. Dillon

Does the stamp duty arise on this?

Mr. MacEntee

Yes. This stamp duty is paid from the Contingency Fund in respect of agreements between Departments or agreements to which Government Departments are a party, and then the Contingency Fund is recouped at the end of the year.

Mr. Dillon

From the Department?

Mr. MacEntee

By this Vote. It is merely a book-keeping transaction.

Mr. Dillon

All matters on the Contingency Fund are book-keeping transactions. At one time it was alleged that attempts were being made to make payments out of the fund without moving the appropriate Supplementary Estimates, that frequently substantial payments were made, and the Estimates were subsequently introduced. I am not suggesting that that was done in this case, but it is proper that the Estimate should be closely watched with a view to preventing any such expedient being resorted to.

Question put and agreed to.