asked the President whether his attention has been called to a communiqué printed by the Irish Times on Monday, 23rd inst., from the Government Publicity Department, concerning a Convention of Cumann na nGaedheal; whether the Government Publicity Department is being used in this manner to further the interests of a political party.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. [ORAL ANSWERS.] - GOVERNMENT PUBLICITY.
This statement was not issued by the Government Publicity Department, and I would refer the Deputy to the correction published in the Irish Times of yesterday.
The Government Publicity Department does not issue statements in the interests of any political party.
Will the Minister say whether he has issued instructions that military bands and the like will not attend political demonstrations?
That is a separate question.
There are already instructions to that effect.
They are not always obeyed. According to the Cork papers there was a military band at Tralee on Sunday.
I did not see it, I must say.
Was the Minister responsible for having the band there? The Cork paper says it was there.
I have said I did not see it, and I did not hear it either, and I was in a position to do both one and the other.
Maybe the story of the Cork paper was all bunkum?