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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 18 Apr 1928

Vol. 23 No. 1

CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - PRESS FACILITIES AT BALDONNEL AERODROME.

asked the Minister for Defence whether he will state the reason for his refusal to admit cinema operators, Press photographers, and Press correspondents to Baldonnel Aerodrome during the visit of the German airmen who proposed to fly from Dublin to New York; and whether, in view of the great importance of similar events in the future, he will take steps to ensure that recognised members of these professions will get reasonable facilities on such occasions.

This question has been in the office for the last sixteen days, and there is now no need to ask the first part of it, but I will give the Minister an opportunity of answering the second part.

I may as well answer the whole question.

The German airmen were our guests; consequently no visitors could be allowed access to them unless they, the German airmen, expressed their willingness to see them. For some days the only feasible way of giving them this immunity was by excluding visitors from the aerodrome. As soon as the Press approached me on this matter I made the best arrangements the lay out of the aerodrome permitted to afford reasonable facilities for the Press while respecting the wishes of our guests. In future cases of similar importance the facilities to be given to the Press representatives will, as in this case, be governed by the existing circumstances.

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