asked the Minister for Agriculture if his Department have given instructions for the withdrawal or cancellation of advertisements in newspapers published in Cork and Donegal; and if he will state what was the reason for such action; if these instructions were issued on representations made by the Government Information Bureau; if the instruction to the advertising agents was conveyed by the Government Information Bureau; if the policy of the newspapers affected is opposed to that of the Government; if this was the reason for issuing the order and if any intimation was sent to the newspapers concerned as to the reason for the action taken.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Government Newspaper Advertising.
It was decided in connection with the wheat scheme to have advertisements inserted in all the principal newspapers. It appeared to me, however, in the case of certain newspapers in County Cork and County Donegal that no useful purpose was being served by advertisements in these papers as their effect was counteracted by editorial articles or comments hostile to the scheme. I, therefore, decided to discontinue the insertion of the advertisements in these papers. It is understood that the reason for discontinuing the advertisements was intimated to the newspapers concerned by the Department's advertising agents.
The selection of newspapers to which advertisements are given by the Department of Agriculture is made without reference to the Government Press Bureau and the instructions are issued not through that Bureau but through the Government's advertising agents.
Will the Minister say if it is then the policy of the Government to withhold Government advertisements dealing with certain aspects of policy where the proprietors of newspapers exercise the liberty of the Press in dealing in general comment, adverse or otherwise, with the Government schemes?
What about the Derry Journal?
Is the position in connection with the wheat scheme that no advertisement in connection with it will be given to any newspaper that does not approve of the Government's policy?
Dr. Ryan
Yes, more especially in the case of a paper that refuses to insert a correction.