asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he will direct Radio Éireann to arrange for the despatch by Press cable of their letters from foreign capitals, so that these letters may be read less than ten days after their date line as was the case with Letter from Rome on 29th December, 1946.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Letters from Foreign Capitals.
The cost of transmitting the weekly news letters by telegraph would be prohibitive. The American Letter is received in the station by air almost invariably within two days of the date of despatch and the Paris Letter within three or four days. Delay is experienced in the receipt of the Letter from Rome. The cause of the delay is not clear and we are pursuing inquiries in an effort to effect expedition.
Does not the Minister think that a report on the situation in Rome or any other foreign capital is virtually valueless from the point of news or comment if it is received here nine or ten days after it is written, and does that not suggest to the Minister that one of the prime purposes in having these letters is the dissemination to the people of this country that in the opinion of the people of Rome the greatest saint walking the earth is Eamon de Valera, Taoiseach of this country?
The Deputy apparently considers this is a very valuable letter when he is in such a hurry to get it. As a matter of fact, we have very great difficulty at present and have been inquiring for a long time in an effort to ensure that we will get it within two or three days.
Inasmuch as the letter is made available once a week, if it is worth anything at all, surely you ought to get it promptly, not nine or ten days after it is written. The expense of sending it by Press cable could not be more than £4 or £5 and if it is worth anything at all surely it is worth £4 or £5?
Nine or ten days is an exaggeration.
The letter referred to in the question was nine days late and it dealt with the election of the Mayor of Rome. The Mayor of Rome had been elected and had resigned before the speculations of this intelligent observer as to what was going to happen on the day of the election had reached us.