Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 15 Feb 1939

Vol. 74 No. 5

Committee on Finance. - Vote 68—League of Nations.

The Taoiseach

I move:—

Go ndeontar suim Bhreise ná raghaidh thar £175 chun íoctha an Mhuirir a thiocfaidh chun bheith iníoctha i rith na bliana dar críoch an 31adh lá de Mhárta, 1939, chun Síntiús mar chabhair do Chostaisí Chumann na Náisiún, agus chun Costaisí eile mar gheall air sin.

That a Supplementary sum not exceeding £175 be granted to defray the Charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending 31st March, 1939, for a Contribution towards the Expenses of the League of Nations, and for other expenses in connection therewith.

This extra provision of £175 is required to meet the balance of loss on exchange arising out of the depreciation of the £ as against Swiss francs between the date on which the Estimate was prepared and the date of payment of the contribution. The original Estimate for 1938-1939 was based on an exchange rate of 21 Swiss francs to the £, but at the time of payment of the contribution the rate had fallen to 20.62 francs to the £. To meet the loss arising out of this depreciation, this sum of £175 is required.

Professor O'Sullivan

I ask for information. What can be discussed on this Estimate?

An Ceann Comhairle

It would be very difficult to say—and I am sure the Deputy appreciates the difficulty— because it is a Vote which has arisen accidently owing to the depreciation of certain currency. It does not open up for discussion the whole question of the League of Nations. That must be obvious to the Deputy. It is not a function of the Chair to direct a Deputy on what he may say, but rather to inform him if he strays from relevancy.

Professor O'Sullivan

I do see the difficulty. I am not inclined to raise the question of international currency, because I know nothing about currency, but may I put it that we are voting an extra sum of money to every department of the League of Nations? Are we not, therefore, entitled to discuss every portion of the League of Nations?

An Ceann Comhairle

The Deputy would not be so entitled because on a Supplementary Vote, it is not customary to cover the ground covered by the main Vote, more particularly in a case where the vote is purely accidental.

Professor O'Sullivan

I quite admit that it is not in order on a Supplementary Estimate to discuss more than there is in the precise item. My contention is that this item contains every portion of the League of Nations because there is a contribution of all our expenses to the League. For instance, the amount we pay as a contribution to the League itself is affected. The amount we pay, I presume, to our representative in Geneva is affected. All these are affected, and every one of these then comes, not under the general Vote, but under the Supplementary Estimate.

An Ceann Comhairle

I am confident that the Deputy would not maintain that the debate should range over the whole position of the League of Nations, despite the very excellent submission he has made.

Professor O'Sullivan

I was hoping that we might be able to raise the question of the League of Nations. Possibly, I maintain a pessimistic outlook when I say that, if we are not enabled to raise it now, by the time the Vote for External Affairs and the League of Nations comes around, there may be no Vote for External Affairs and no League of Nations.

An Ceann Comhairle

The question will then have solved itself.

Professor O'Sullivan

Not quite. I was hoping that we might give an opportunity to the Taoiseach to give his views.

An Ceann Comhairle

The Chair is opposed to giving that opportunity to the Taoiseach.

Professor O'Sullivan

I was just urging that you might be able to take my reading of the Vote, so as to give the Taoiseach an opportunity of giving his views in the extremely changed situation of not merely a breakdown of the purposes for which we are voting this money, the so-called collective security, which some people seem to rejoice has broken down—I never understand why—but a breakdown of all security. I was hoping, however, that the Taoiseach might enlighten me as to the Government's attitude on that, on the ground that, in reality, every portion of the League is affected. The issues are of such tremendous importance that, as I say, I thought it might be possible for you, Sir, to rule that some direction might be given to us here, since the direction that people hoped to get from Versailles or Munich, and every other sheet-anchor to international security seems to be going.

An Ceann Comhairle

Is the Deputy raising this matter as a point of order?

Professor O'Sullivan

Yes.

An Ceann Comhairle

Well, it seems to be rather involved.

Professor O'Sullivan

Yes, Sir, perhaps it is rather involved, but it is rather difficult to put my thoughts into the form that I would like. I think, however, that you will acknowledge the supreme importance of this. Giving my own personal opinion, I think that we are a great deal closer now to a European burst-up than we have been at any time, with the exception, perhaps, of the end of August last or the beginning of September. For that reason, I think an opportunity might be given to the Taoiseach on this Vote to explain the views of the Government on that very important question.

An Ceann Comhairle

I regret that I cannot grant the Deputy's request nor afford the desired opportunity to the Taoiseach, because to do so would be to open the door to similar discussions on other Estimates. The Chair could not accede to the Deputy's request.

Question put and agreed to.