asked the President whether any correspondence has taken place between the Government Information Bureau and any newspaper published in County Wexford with reference to news matter published; if any demand was made for the withdrawal of statements made in the newspaper in question, and if so, what was the reason for making such a demand; if any threat was used to withdraw Government advertisements if a contradiction of statements made was not published, and if it is one of the functions of the Government Information Bureau to undertake censorship of Irish newspapers.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Government Information Bureau.
In September last correspondence took place between the Director of the Government Information Bureau and the Editor of The People, Wexford, in reference to a false statement about a Department of State contained in the letter of the special correspondent in Dublin of that paper, published in the issue of September 15th. The text of the entire correspondence was published in The People newspaper. From it the Deputy will see that no threats were made by the Director of the Information Bureau, and that the Editor of the newspaper withdrew the false statement and expressed regret for its publication.
It is not one of the functions of the Information Bureau to undertake censorship of Irish newspapers, but it is one of its functions to make available to the Press, so far as possible, accurate information regarding State activities, and to correct false reports harmful to the nation.
Will the President say if he places any restriction of any kind on Irish publicists in making any comment they wish regarding the growth of unemployment in the country?
I do not think it is necessary to add anything to the answer given.
Is it not a fact that, in this particular case, threats by innuendo, at any rate, were brought against a Wexford newspaper to prevent them in future from making whatever comment they wanted to make on the growth of unemployment in the country?
There were no threats by innuendo or otherwise, as the Deputy will see from the correspondence. What was drawn attention to was an attempt to create a panic by suggesting that there was a panic in certain State departments.
Does the President suggest that there is not grave concern in the Department of Industry and Commerce as to the number of people drawing unemployment assistance and the number of people recorded as unemployed in the country?
That is a separate question.
There was no panic as was suggested, and there is no panic amongst people who understand the situation and who know exactly what the figures mean.
Eighty thousand people drawing unemployment assistance, and the situation well in hand.
Next question.
Might I ask a supplementary question arising out of the last answer?
When the next question is called, the Deputy may not.
And the Chair has called?
Yes.