I move:—
Go ndeontar suim ná raghaidh thar £44,245 chun slánuithe na suime is gá chun íoctha an Mhuirir a thiocfaidh chun bheith iníoctha i rith na bliana dar críoch an 31 adh lá de Mhárta, 1943, chun Tuarastail agus Costaisí eile i dtaobh Foirleatha Neashrangaigh (Uimh. 45 de 1926).
That a sum not exceeding £44,245 be granted to complete the sum necessary to defray the Charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending the 31st day of March, 1943, for Salaries and other Expenses in connection with Wireless Broadcasting (No. 45 of 1926).
The amount of the Estimate for the broadcasting service for the financial year 1942-43 is £66,245, a net reduction of £4,350 on the provision for last year. The decrease is mainly due to the absence of provision for the after-hours experimental short-wave transmissions included in last year's Estimate. These transmissions, as I previously informed the House, were discontinued in March, 1941, because reception in countries abroad was found to be unsatisfactory.
The variations under the sub-heads are as follows:—Sub-head A: Decrease £1,630. Due to the non-inclusion of the salary of the Director post, the position being vacant and the remuneration under consideration when the Estimate was being prepared; to the cessation of post of Principal Clerk, the holder of the post having been transferred to another Department and the present arrangements for the performance of the duties being of a temporary character; also to staff savings resulting from the discontinuance of the short-wave transmissions already referred to. There are off-setting increases due to the conversion of the Music Director post from part-time to full-time and to incremental increases in salary, etc. Sub-head B: Decrease £670. Due mainly to programme savings resulting from the discontinuance of the short-wave transmissions; offset by increased provision for performing right fees, for expenditure on public orchestral and symphony concerts and on additional assistance in the news section. Sub-head E: Decrease £215. Representing savings on light, power, etc., by reason of the cessation of the short-wave transmissions offset by the cost of increased power requirements at the Dublin and Cork stations. Sub-head F: Decrease £1,760. Due to provision for special equipment for short-wave transmissions not being required this year; also to reduced expenditure on maintenance and renewals, etc. The decreases are offset by increased cost of materials.
Revenue from wireless licences in the financial year which ended on the 31st March last amounted to approximately £109,000, and from advertisements and miscellaneous receipts to approximately £2,000: total, £111,000. This was £10,500 less than had been expected, the decrease being due to the cessation of sponsored programmes and to a falling off in wireless licence receipts. The total number of licences on the 31st March last was 174,550, a drop of 8,144 on the figures for the corresponding date in 1941. For the current financial year it was anticipated, when the Estimate was being prepared, that revenue would reach a total of £115,400, including £400 from advertisements, etc., but it is evident now that this estimate is not likely to be realised. By reason partly, no doubt, of the general circumstances of the times and partly of the difficulty which many holders of wireless sets are experiencing in obtaining essential parts, particularly high-tension batteries, more than ordinary trouble is at present being experienced in securing renewal of licences in proper course. In relation to this I wish to emphasise that there is a statutory obligation on all holders of wireless apparatus, whether complete sets or parts of sets and whether workable or not to take out a licence, and that the requirement is one from which there can be no exception. If a person holds wireless apparatus of any kind without a licence he renders himself liable to prosecution and penalty. Proceedings were taken against 580 defaulters last year, fines being imposed in the majority of cases. In some instances confiscation of the apparatus was ordered by the court.
I have been giving special consideration to the position of holders of sets which are inoperable by reason of inability to procure essential components. So long as the sets continue to remain in the holders' possession there is no possibility of relieving them of the obligation to take out a licence. Nor would it, I fear, be practicable to make any concession in regard to the amount of the licence fee in such cases, by reason of the serious administrative difficulties which would be involved. Large scale evasion or attempted evasion would certainly have to be counted upon if any concession were made, and apart from the consideration of resulting loss of revenue the task for the Department of determining, in every case, whether a set was or was not genuinely unworkable, would be an impossible one. The difficulty of discrimination is not lessened by the fact that there has, I understand, been some improvement in the position as regards battery supplies in recent months. My inquiries in the matter, however, are not yet fully completed and some time further will necessarily elapse before a final conclusion can be reached. In the meantime, I wish to renew the suggestion which I have already made that holders of receiving sets, which are inoperable from any cause, should arrange for storage with wireless dealers or other traders and so free themselves completely from liability in regard to the taking out of a licence.
Everything possible continues to be done, within the limits of the resources available, to maintain the general standard of the programmes on a satisfactory level and I think, especially when regard is had to the difficulties associated with broadcast programme production, even under the most favourable conditions, and to the fact that there is, on the whole, little selective listening, that it may fairly be claimed that the efforts have been successful. Certainly neither time, nor thought, nor trouble has been spared in the matter of presenting interesting, varied and educative programmes, and it is pleasant to know, from the vast amount of correspondence received and in other ways, that the programmes of Radio Eireann are proving very attractive to a considerable body of listeners, not only in Ireland but even outside, especially in centres where there are large Irish populations.
An outstanding example of successful initiative on the musical side during the last winter season was the series of public concerts given by the radio orchestra—specially augmented— in the Mansion House. The series concluded with a symphony concert in the Gaiety Theatre under the conductorship of an eminent visiting conductor, who very kindly placed his services at our disposal. There were ten public concerts in all and the public support accorded to them was most gratifying. Not only was there a full house in every instance, but hundreds had on each occasion to be refused admission on account of the inadequacy of the accommodation available. For the symphony concert in the Gaiety Theatre, the reserved accommodation was booked out in one day and, so great was the interest taken in this concert, that it was decided to give a repeat performance in the Mansion House on the following night. For the latter again there was a full house and an enthusiastic audience. A particularly encouraging aspect of all these concerts is the fact that the audience was, for the most part, composed of young people. The remarkable success of the concerts is evidence that a sound public taste exists for the good things in music, which requires only encouragement and opportunity to make itself apparent. I am making provision for a further series of concerts on similar lines next winter. It is a matter for regret, however, that we have not at our disposal a hall, acoustically suitable and of adequate size, in which these first class, highly interesting, and highly educative performances could be given to fullest advantage.
Special attention continues to be paid to the news service and, following the wishes expressed by several Deputies during the debate on the Broadcasting Vote last year, arrangements have been made for the broadcast of an additional bulletin on Sundays. For some time past, therefore, three news bulletins have been broadcast on week-days and two on Sundays.
Another suggestion made last year was that the venue for "Question Time" should not be confined to Dublin. As all interested are, no doubt, aware, broadcasts of this most popular and interesting feature have since been arranged from various provincial centres. A "Question Time" series in Irish was also carried through and drew enthusiastic groups from Gaelic League branches and other Gaelic societies.
The desirability of developing the distinctively Irish character of the programmes is constantly in mind. A series of vocal and instrumental programmes under the title "Contemporary Irish Composers" was given from the studios during the year, and all the public orchestral concerts featured works of home composers. A series based on the music of Irish harpists was also arranged. Various schools of music contributed, many programmes of a high standard and considerable musical interest, namely, the Royal Irish Academy of Music, Cork Municipal School of Music, Leinster School of Music, etc.
The innovation of presenting the Abbey Players and the Longford Productions in representative plays on Sunday evenings has proved particularly popular. These, alternating with the station production of important original plays and the dramatisations of such works as "Knocknagow", etc., have produced a marked increase of public interest in radio plays. This is borne out by the volume of letters received and the friendly criticism offered by listeners both in Ireland and Great Britain. It is hoped to develop and encourage an increase of these presentations with further perfection of presentation.
Considerable progress was made also in the development of Gaelic drama. During the year 1941 there were between 50 and 60 broadcasts of plays in Irish, apart from minor plays and dramatisations in the programmes for school children.
Another suggestion stressed in last year's debate was the need for more frequent radio talks on agriculture, horticulture and kindred subjects. In regard to horticulture, we have now a weekly talk by a very well-known gardening expert. This talk has, for some time past, been given at 9.45 p.m. on Friday nights with a view to conveniencing those who, owing to outside work, etc., are unable to tune in earlier in the evening, and to give people who cannot spare much time for gardening during the week up-to-date hints for the week-end work.
A number of talks on agriculture were broadcast during the year. These were contributed by officers of the Department, by experts recommended by the Department, and by others with whom the broadcasting authorities were able to get in touch. A short series of talks on bee-keeping was also broadcast. I would like to say, while on this question, that the broadcasting authorities are always glad to arrange for talks on agriculture, marketing of produce, and kindred subjects by practical farmers or others who are authorities on the matters on which they speak. The difficulty in this matter is to find suitable people who are willing and able to do this work, and there is also the difficulty that the expert in a particular subject is not always a successful broadcaster.
Just one thing further. While, as I have already said, I regard the programmes of Radio Eireann as of satisfactory standard taking existing broadcasting resources into account, I consider, nevertheless, that the standard falls below what might reasonably be expected from the national station. The Irish programmes should, in my view, reflect the national culture at its best and anything less, apart from being unsatisfactory to listeners, can only have the effect of impairing the national prestige. Therefore, I feel that it would be in the best interests of the country that, consistent with the national finances, broadcasting should have at its disposal resources sufficient to enable it to function on a level worthy of Irish cultural tradition, presenting programmes of good standard, varied, educative and entertaining, reflexive of the best and most characteristic of the national activities.
With this in mind I have, within recent months, been making a close examination of the programme side of the service with the object of determining what improvements might be feasible within reasonable limits of expenditure. So far as my investigations have gone they lead to certain specific conclusions, viz.: the orchestra, as at present constituted, is inadequate for all-round programme work, the provision for fees to "outside" artists—musicians, writers, actors, etc.—is not sufficient to enable adequate payments to be made for work of particular merit; insufficient attention is being paid to the development of national music for radio purposes; there is a large quantity of Irish music which is practically unknown and not orchestrated. I would like to see the hours of broadcasting extended, although I recognise that this is an improvement which, by reason of the need for conservation of electricity, we cannot contemplate at present.
To carry out the more practicable of the improvements indicated would, of course, involve a material addition to existing broadcasting expenditure and the Government would naturally be slow in existing conditions to approve of any increased outlay except where there was urgent justification. That such justification exists in the case of the broadcasting programmes is, however, accepted by the Government in principle and, when the scheme of improvements upon which I am now engaged has been fully worked out— probably by the autumn—I hope to approach the Dáil again for approval of such further financial provision as may be involved.
Now that concludes my formal statement but, before sitting down, I wish to say a further word in regard to the position of holders of battery sets, a matter which has been giving me considerable concern. I realise that there must be a large number of such sets which are inoperable by reason of inability to obtain batteries, but the solution, which has been repeatedly suggested to me, that there should be complete exemption from the liability to take out a licence in such cases, is one beset with serious administrative difficulties. And these difficulties would attend even a modification of the amount of the licence fee which is another solution that has been put forward. The trouble is that, if any concession were to be made, the Post Office would have the onus of determining in every instance whether a set was or was not genuinely unusable; if it was, whether the battery difficulty was the actual and sole cause; the date from which a set became unworkable, i.e., whether prior or subsequent to the due date of renewal of the licence; whether, if a set were unworkable at one particular period, it would continue so—and this is a point upon which the recent easing of the position in regard to battery supplies has a very important bearing. Even if the Department could be satisfied concerning dates—and the difficulties of this are manifest—it is obvious that any concession made in connection with the licence would involve the setting up of a very elaborate system of inspection, if evasion and resulting loss of revenue were to be reasonably guarded against. I do not see how the Post Office could possibly undertake the inspections which would be essential. Therefore, while, as I have already said, no final conclusion in the matter has so far been reached, I fear, on account of the serious practical difficulties, that there is no likelihood of any concession in the matter being found possible, or any alternative to the requirement of taking out a licence in every case in which wireless apparatus whether workable or not is held. Accordingly, I strongly advise persons whose sets are unworkable that they should, in their own interests, take all possible measures to relieve themselves of their statutory liability, by arranging either on their own account or in conjunction with others for temporary storage of the apparatus with wireless dealers or other traders. One licence will cover any number of sets stored at a particular place.
