andMr. Crinion asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if any State money has been paid by the Government to Messrs. Roche or Wymes, the representatives of Pat Wright or Woods, or their agents on foot of the agreement between him and the owners of Bula Mines Ltd., and, if so, when.

11.

asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if any consideration has been paid to Norfin Nominees Limited, the executors of Patrick Wright, deceased, or Bula Holdings (formerly Frolic Investments) under the Bula Limited (Acquisition of Shares) Act, 1977; if so, when; and the amount of each such payment.

With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 10 and 11 together. The answer to these questions is "No."

Will the Minister state when it is anticipated the payment will be made in view of the fact we were informed that under the agreement of December, 1975—an agreement we have never seen—the payment was due on 9th February, 1977?

I am not able to give the Deputy a reply to that question.

Why is the Minister not able to give a reply to that rather obvious and fundamental question? One would imagine it would be in the forefront of his mind in view of the long debate we had in the House about this whole question.

The question is when the payment will be made and I am not able to say exactly——

What is the reason for the hold up?

I do not accept that there is a hold up.

Is the Minister suggesting that payment was not due on 9th February, 1977, under the agreement and that what we were told in relation to this secret agreement was untrue?

I would refer the Deputy to the Official Report. I do not accept the inference of the question.

Is the Minister aware that I was informed by his private secretary on the telephone when he was urging me to allow the Bill to be passed very quickly that it had to be enacted into law in order to enable payment to be made by 9th February, 1977?

I am aware that the Deputy says that is so.

I am calling Deputy Crinion who is offering.

Is the Minister suggesting that I am misleading the House, that I am saying something that is untrue and that I was not told this?

No. I am aware that the Deputy has said this is so.

Is it not so?

I am aware of what the Deputy has just said.

What hook is the Minister on?

There are a number of points in Deputy O'Malley's supplementary question. I would have to get the report of my private secretary as to what exactly transpired in that telephone conversation. I can neither confirm nor deny it.

Leaving aside the telephone conversation, is it not a fact that under the secret agreement of 12th December, 1975, this payment was to be made not later than the 80th or 90th day after the report of the arbitrator and that that day was 9th February, 1977?

I can only refer the Deputy to the Official Report of the debate.

I am asking the Minister a question which I am entitled to do.

This question cannot go on interminably. Other Deputies are seeking to get in also and I wish to facilitate them. We cannot dwell all day on this question.

I am amazed at the incredible refusal of the Minister to answer a simple question. Is it now the position that possibly payment will not be made at all?

That is not my understanding of the situation. It is not the position that payment will not be made.

Deputy Crinion wishes to speak.

What is the Minister's understanding of the position?

I have called Deputy Crinion who indicated a willingness to speak. Does he wish to offer?

Will the Government be paying interest on this money from 12th February?

I should like to refer the Deputy to the Order Paper. He will see that question is coming up.

Will the Minister answer the question I asked him? What is his understanding of the position in relation to the payment of this money?

My understanding is exactly as was set out when the Bill was passed, that the money will be paid.

When?

Obviously, I cannot give an exact answer to that question.

Why not?

As a practising solicitor the Deputy knows better than I that the matter of closure is in the hands of legal people. I cannot give an exact date of how long it will take.

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