asked the Minister for Finance if he will state the total amount which, on 28th July, 1933, was repayable in respect of external loans (as defined in the Dáil Eireann Loans and Funds Acts, 1924-36); and if he will further state the total amount paid under the said Acts since the 28th July, 1933, to the latest date available, segregating this amount into (a) the amount paid direct to a "subscriber," as defined in the 1924 Act of the said Acts, and (b) the amount paid to Eamon de Valera, the President of the Executive Council, claiming through or under a subscriber, and (c) the amount paid to all persons, other than the said Eamon de Valera, claiming through or under a subscriber.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Repayment of External Loans.
The gross amount of the liability in respect of the Dáil Eireann External Loans accepted by Saorstát Eireann under the Acts, 1924-36, was $4,988,738, so far as can be ascertained. The figure in question is the total amount subscribed to the loans, plus 25 per cent. interest thereon, less the amount distributed on account by the receivers. The amount issued up to the present date from the Central Fund to the Repayment Account in New York for distribution to persons making claims on foot of subscriptions is $2,406,664, or £491,283. The amount actually distributed from the Repayment Account is not known exactly, but would be very slightly less than the sum named. The information asked for in the other portions of the Deputy's question is not available in my Department.
Is the Minister not in a position to ascertain, by inquiry of the body referred to in his answer, the amount paid directly to Eamon de Valera, the President of the Executive Council, claiming through or under a subscriber, and the amount paid to other subscribers? Does the Minister not think it desirable that the Dáil should know how much is being recovered by individual subscribers and by the President of the Executive Council in his capacity as an assignee of these bonds?
I am in doubt as to whether I should take any notice of that impertinent supplementary question or not——
Does the Minister describe the question on the Order Paper as impertinent?
——but for the information of the Deputy, I will refer him to the Act of 1934, under which the amounts of the repayments of the Dáil Eireann External Loan will be presented to the Dáil in due course. If the Deputy is in the House on that occasion, he can no doubt put the question if he so desires.
Does the Minister not think it desirable, with a view to keeping the House informed as to whether the distribution of this money is being expeditiously carried out, that we should know, if we desire to put a Parliamentary Question at any given date, how much of this money has found its way into the hands of the President of the Executive Council, and how much into the hands of the bondholders who retain their bonds?
The name of Dillon is associated with a very discreditable reference in the case of the Paris funds, and I do not want another gentleman of the name of Dillon to pursue an investigation of that sort.
That interruption is quite out of order.
I should like to say at this stage that no money has come into my hands. As a trustee, money has been invested for people who gave it for that purpose.
The Irish Press?
How much?
I could not say exactly, but whatever amount came along.
That is what the question was designed to ascertain.