asked the Minister for Finance if he will state (a) if the chairman of the Industrial Credit Corporation is the nominee of the Minister as such chairman; (b) if he is aware that about the 23rd March, 1939, the said chairman broadcast from Radio Eireann on the industries of Leinster; (c) if the permission or approval of the Minister was obtained for the giving of this broadcast or for the facts, figures, data and views so presented by the said chairman, and (d) if other members of this corporation or (e) members of the Civil Service are free to express their uncensored views by radio or otherwise on matters inside the scope of their duties.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Industrial Credit Corporation.
asked the Minister for Finance if he will state (a) if he is aware that in a broadcast on the 23rd March last the chairman of the Industrial Credit Corporation is reported in the Press of 24th March to have referred to an industry for the manufacture of peat briquettes in Ticknevin bog as being in the experimental stage and thereafter to have said that it was believed that success had been attained at last and that granted certain climatic conditions the experiments would result for the first time in the large scale commercial utilisation of peat resources; (b) if there is any experiment in respect of the manufacture of peat briquettes at or in Ticknevin bog other than that carried on by the Peat Fuel Company, Ticknevin, which closed down about three weeks after the said broadcast with outstanding debts of over £150,000 received from public funds; and (c) if the chairman of the Industrial Credit Corporation is kept informed of the working and prospects of concerns financed from public funds.
asked the Minister for Finance if he will state (a) if he is aware that in a broadcast on the 23rd March last the chairman of the Industrial Credit Corporation is reported in the Press as having referred in a favourable way, calculated to impress investors, to the new textile factories at Athlone, Tullamore and Portlaoighise, and to the Arklow pottery works; (b) what amount of public money is invested in each of these undertakings either by way of loan, grant or shareholding; (c) the nominal price of the shares of the said undertakings and the latest market quotation for the said shares; (d) what profits or losses have been made by each of the said undertakings yearly since their establishment.
I propose to take the questions numbered 6, 7 and 8 together. The Deputy apparently misconceives the position of the Minister for Finance in relation to the Industrial Credit Company, which is an independent body operating under the Companies Acts. It would be unreasonable to expect me to answer questions relating to a broadcast by the chairman of the company, or to the interpretation to be put on statements made in the course of such broadcast. In reply to specific questions of fact included in the Deputy's questions, the following is the information asked for:—
The present chairman of the Industrial Credit Company is the nominee of the Minister for Finance pursuant to paragraph 4 (a) of the Schedule to the Industrial Credit Act, 1933. I gather from the Deputy's question that the said chairman broadcast from Radio Eireann on 23rd March, 1939, on the subject of the industries of Leinster. I have explained my position in relation to the company and its officers and accordingly I have no responsibility for the broadcast and my permission or approval was not required, sought or given. The extent to which the chairman or other members of the board of the company or any of its officers are free to express their uncensored views on questions within the scope of their duties is a matter for the board. Members of the Civil Service, as the Deputy is aware, are not in the same position. The nature of their duties and their association with public administration naturally preclude them from giving public expression to their personal views on (these) matters except with the permission of their superiors. No undertaking other than the Peat Fuel Company has been operating at Ticknevin bog. It is presumed that the chairman of the Industrial Credit Company keeps himself informed, to the extent to which it is necessary for the proper conduct of the business of the company, of the working and prospects of concerns in which the company is interested. There is no direct investment of public money in the industries referred to by the Deputy at Athlone, Tullamore, Portlaoighise or Arklow and accordingly I cannot be expected to furnish information on the financial position of these companies.