asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he will arrange that for the future all reports or descriptions of Oireachtas debates broadcasted from Radio Eireann will be placed in the Library for reference.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Oireachtas Debates and Broadcasting.
I am not prepared to make the arrangement suggested by the Deputy. These necessarily very condensed references to debates which are available in full in the Official Reports would not, I am satisfied, be of any practical use to Deputies and Senators for reference purposes.
I am sure they would not. Will the Minister consider the fact that originally there used to be a deposit in the Library of even the general news that is given over the radio and, in view of the criticisms that have arisen with regard to the inadequate and partial nature of the news broadcasted of the Oireachtas proceedings over the radio, does the Minister not realise that it would help him to improve the situation from that point of view and would assist towards a more impartial report if it was regarded as a privilege of the Oireachtas that comments and reports of its proceedings would be placed in the Library for perusal?
I do not think it would. It is always open to Deputies to listen to the news——
And to the Minister, too, I hope.
——and to raise any question in reference to what they hear by way of question or motion in the Oireachtas. Otherwise I think the less any of us interferes with these reporters, who work under severe pressure of time, the better for the objectivity of the news.
Is not the Minister too simple in asking Deputies of this House to take it that the reports that are broadcasted from Radio Eireann are the product of individual outsiders? Is it not a fact that the Publicity Department of the Taoiseach keeps in the closest possible touch with the type of report that goes over the radio, even as regards reports of the Oireachtas proceedings?
The general policy is to interfere as little as possible with the reporters in what they select for the news. If any other check is kept on it it is rather from the point of view of national policy at the moment, but it certainly is not done with a view to giving a Party slant of any kind to the news.
Is not the Minister aware that the machinery for giving the national-policy touch to this business is Party machinery?
No.
Oh yes.
Certainly not. The Publicity Department has nothing to do with Party publicity of any kind, or propaganda. That is very carefully kept apart from it.
It is only de Valera publicity that goes out.
He happens to be the Taoiseach. That is the unfortunate part from your point of view.
The most unfortunate thing in this country.
Is the Minister aware that on a recent occasion there was a report from the B.B.C. of two speeches from this House at 6 o'clock in the evening, and at 6.40 Radio Eireann was capable of giving only one?
I went in detail into the various times at which these speeches were given in another place and I suggest it should be raised by way of separate question. I have not the details with me, but I know on close examination it appeared to me that the reporters had done the best they could in the circumstances.
That was not the question I asked the Minister.
I would have to go into all the details if I were to give a full answer to the question.
There is no necessity to do that. The Minister should answer the question "yes" or "no".
It is a separate question.
I asked the Minister is he aware that on a recent occasion the B.B.C. was capable of giving two speeches from this House and his organisation was capable of giving only one, three-quarters of an hour later.
I am not concerned with the B.B.C.
The Minister ought not to be because he would be ashamed of his own organisation if he were.