asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will now state the conditions under which the Great Northern Railway Company is to be acquired and whether the taxpayers of the Republic will have to provide for any of the losses incurred on the Six-County section of the railway and also when the proposals for legislation to implement the recent agreement will be introduced.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Great Northern Railway Acquisition.
The principles of the agreement reached for the acquisition of the Great Northern Railway Company were announced in an official statement which appeared in the public Press on 30th October, 1951. This statement indicated that the financial results of the operation of the undertaking would be apportioned in a manner to be agreed between the two Governments on the general basis that, except in the case of uneconomic services specially required by one Government only, profits and losses attributable to the traffic and operations in each area should accrue to or become the responsibility of the Government for that area. If the continuance of an uneconomic service is required by one Government only, that Government will assume financial responsibility for the losses involved.
I am not in a position at present to indicate when the proposals for legislation can be introduced.
Is the Minister in a position to state what charge, if any, will fall on the revenue of this financial year in respect of this matter?
That has not been estimated.
If it has not been estimated upon on what basis did the Minister for Finance say that a charge of £200,000 would fall?
That is an estimate.
The Minister said it has not been estimated.
That is an estimate of the provision that must be made to meet contingent liability under our agreement.
In other words, it does not matter what you say, whether it is the same or different.
Is this the figure which the taxpayers of this State will have to pay for the losses incurred on the Six County section of the railway?
The taxpayers of this area will pay no part of the losses incurred on the Six County section of the railway.