asked the Minister for Finance the original amount of reparations which it was agreed to pay to the British Government; and the amount paid to date.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Payment of Reparations.
39.
I assume that the Deputy is inquiring about the payments pursuant to the Agreement made on 3rd December, 1925, between the British Government and the Government of the Irish Free State. Under that agreement, the Irish side contracted to pay the British Government (a) a sum of £150,000 on 1st January, 1926, and (b) an annuity of £250,000 for 60 years, of which the first payment became due on 1st April, 1926, and subsequent payments on the 1st April in each succeeding year.
The amount paid to date is almost £10,000,000. The reason for the discrepancy between the actual payments and the amount of £10,900,000 which would be the total if calculated as stated above is that on the date of the agreement the British Government owed about £900,000 to this country and this figure was offset against the £150,000 mentioned above and the first three instalments of the annuity. The result of this was that the first payment on foot of the agreement was made in 1929.
These demands arose, I think, out of compensation for damage caused in the course of the Anglo-Irish conflict?
The damage was caused between 1919 and the Truce. Money was paid out by the British Government in compensation for that damage and the then Free State Government undertook to recoup it.
It was all paid to citizens of this State at any rate?
Liability for compensation for damage was, as I understand it, decided on the basis of the motives of the person doing the damage.
It was all paid to citizens of this State for damage done in the course of the Anglo-Irish War?
It was all for damage done in this country.