asked the Taoiseach whether, in regard to the answer he gave to Question No. 5 on the 22nd November, 1951, the Dáil is to take it that the Government has no knowledge, or even no estimate, as to the total (a) gross, and (b) net sterling assets held in Britain by firms, corporations and persons resident in Ireland (other than the Central Bank, Government and associated banks) and, if so, whether he will request the Central Statistics office to prepare such an estimate indicating the method of computation adopted to ascertain the net figure.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Investments in Britain.
With regard to the first part of the question, no official estimate is available. With regard to the second part, the Central Statistics Office has been examining the practicability of making an official estimate of the value of sterling assets in the categories mentioned by the Deputy, and a good deal of preliminary work on the investigation has already been done.
Am I to take it that there is no estimate of the total sterling assets held by this country in Britain?
There is no official estimate.
Are there unofficial estimates?
There have been some—one in particular.
Could we have the unofficial estimates that have been prepared?