Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 2 Dec 1999

Vol. 512 No. 2

Written Answers. - Claim Against German Government.

Jim O'Keeffe

Ceist:

31 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the status of the claim for compensation from the German Government by the family of the former master and owner of the MV Loch Ryan bombed by three aircraft of the German airforce on 16 August 1940 (details supplied); if this is the last remaining Irish claim against the German Government arising from damage caused during the Second World War; and if he will provide all the necessary assistance to ensure that this claim is finalised without further delay. [25467/99]

Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Andrews)

The claim for compensation on behalf of the family of the former master and owner of the MV Loch Ryan was reactivated by my Department in 1994. After considerable research, the claim together with a substantial number of exhibits was prepared in my Department in June 1995 and sent to the Irish Embassy in Bonn for onward transmission to the German authorities. In October 1995 an informal response indicated that the German authorities were not prepared to accept responsibility. The Irish Embassy understood that the door was being left open in that informal response for further representations. A draft communication in reply was prepared by my Department and sent to our embassy in Bonn for onward transmission to the German authorities. The embassy made certain recommendations and a revised draft has now been prepared. This revised draft will be transmitted to the embassy and I have directed that all necessary assistance be provided by my Department to ensure that this claim is finalised without any undue delay. This is the only claim for damages which is active at the present time.