I should like to hear some statement from the Minister which would indicate the future policy of Radio Éireann. So far as I can see, the broadcasting station has been drifting along for a number of years with small additions here and there but in general there is no settled policy. Reading the Minister's statement one can only say that it is dull and drab, lacks imagination and is in general indicative of a policy which, so far as broadcasting is concerned, shows no clear-cut lines of thought or no clearcut views on broadcasting in general. It may be that the cause of that is the fact that the broadcasting station is the same, or almost the same, now, as when it was set up here in 1926 and that, with some small modifications, with the exception of a limited quantity of new equipment put in there from time to time, the facilities generally are the same as they were when the station was founded. Wireless and everything connected with it in the past 20 years, particularly in recent years, has made very rapid strides, and the equipment and buildings deemed suitable 20 years ago are entirely inadequate for present-day requirements. That being so, I think the Government and the Minister should consider some longer policy, some policy with a wider view, some policy which will give those charged with the responsibility of broadcasting better opportunities to make use of their talents and the talents available. So far as my information goes, the present buildings are entirely inadequate for modern requirements in broadcasting, and, consequently, the station and Radio Éireann in general, while it has shown some considerable improvement, is far from having the standard of efficiency of stations abroad which we are in a position to listen to.
I suggest to the Minister that it might be advisable to take broadcasting out of the control of the Department of Posts and Telegraphs. It may be that a proposal of that kind would involve setting up a separate independent company. I do not see any substantial objection to such a course. In fact, if there is one case in which an independent company or body could be set up and in which it might have desirable results, it is this, where we could get an independent body charged with responsibility not merely for news but for all programmes, and in that way the radio would be expected to show some independence. At present the news in particular is bad, the news service of Radio Éireann is bad. Anyone who lives within 50 miles of Dublin, or even at a greater distance, can get in the evening papers practically all the news given by Radio Éireann, with the possible exception of some late local news or late Dáil reports. With these exceptions, the news is either a rehash of the news available in the evening papers or of the news available from the B.B.C.
I do not see why we should not make use of the services of a news agency. There may be objection to broadcasting directly news received from other countries, but surely we can engage the services of one of these news agencies, and, as is done by other stations, attribute the particular news to the agency. In that way, Radio Éireann will in no way be saddled with responsibility for disseminating that news or for the accuracy or general tone of that news. The people, at any rate, will be in a position to get news which at present is denied them. In so far as most listeners are concerned, if they want wider world news, they can get it by listening to the B.B.C., where they will get a fuller description of world news. If we are broadcasting a news service, I do not see why we should not undertake to broadcast some of the reports which these news agencies make available. In that way, Radio Éireann could give a far better news service than it is giving. Certain local information can only be given over the local station, and it must present a much fuller picture of local conditions than any news agency could possibly give, but until quite recently, and even at present, local news as given over the radio, with the exception of certain cities and big towns, is defective, and, in so far as the country in general is concerned, matters of serious note which should be reported are rarely reported until the following day. With the rapid transport of news-papers nowadays, it is possible to read these items earlier than one can hear them over the radio.
On the general question of what the public should hear, or what we should ask the station to broadcast to the public, I think that, taking it generally, the Dáil might give as accurate an indication of the public needs in the matter as any other body, but, on the other hand, there is no reason why what a Deputy says here, merely because he is in a position to say it in the Dáil, should carry any greater weight, in relation to entertainment, than what the ordinary citizen, who makes his views known to the Radio Director, may say and the ordinary citizen's views should be given consideration equal to that given to a Deputy's speech, except perhaps when public matters are in question. For that reason, I do not think it entirely fair that, on the entertainment side, views should be vigorously canvassed here in such a way as to suggest that because Deputies are in a position to voice their opinion on matters of entertainment and matters of topical interest, their views should receive any more attention than is given, in the ordinary way, to the representations made by individuals, either in reply to questionnaires or any other inquiries the station may make.
With regard to general policy and the guiding principles which influence the radio, I think that this is the place to make representations and to ventilate our opinions and the opinions which Deputies may glean from time to time from contact with their constituents. I should like to say that if there is one thing more than another which may damage this country abroad it is the complex that a large mass of people throughout the world is listening to Radio Éireann. I think that some Deputies gravely exaggerate our importance and our influence, and I feel that the Government and certain organs which they have available to them and which they use, are inclined at times to exaggerate our importance and the number of people outside who listen to us. Having said that, I must say that I do not want to imply that we should refuse to be influenced by public opinion outside, but, with the exception of America, England, a small percentage of French listeners and a small percentage of Spanish and Italian listeners, I think it is true to say that the world rarely listens. There is certainly only a very limited number throughout the rest of the world who listen to Radio Éireann. It is nonsensical and displays a complete ignorance of world affairs for Deputies to imagine that there is an audience all over the rest of the world listening to Radio Éireann. It is equally nonsensical to imagine that there is a vast audience in the United States.
An Ceann Comhairle resumed the Chair.
There are large numbers of our people in America and, with the rapid rate of present emigration, there will be a large audience in England. These people will be interested in our affairs but, with the exception of emigrants and the children of people of Irish extraction, it is true to say that the vast bulk of the people of the United States and England do not listen to Radio Éireann any more than we listen to broadcasting stations in America. It is true that there are in America many people of Irish extraction and of Irish birth. While these people may not listen as regularly as we should like, they do listen on occasion. But anybody who has travelled even a small portion of the globe will recognise that other peoples are preoccupied with their own affairs. No matter how interesting we may make our broadcasting service, they will have other matters to which they will attend. Any statistics that have been compiled will show clearly that it is absurd to suggest that we have a vast listening audience in America or that we shall have such an audience. The Deputy who said that a number of those people never heard of this country did not exaggerate. The number of people who came to Europe during the war and who had never heard of this country was surprising. It would be untrue to say that the majority of the American people never heard of this country, but quite large numbers who came to Europe recently had only a vague idea of where Ireland was and those who were not of Irish extraction were not greatly interested in conditions here.
I should like to impress on the Minister and the broadcasting authorities that whatever information is given to our people in America should be accurate. There should not be any of the Fianna Fáil window-dressing which goes on at times at Radio Éireann. In future I should like that the questions and answers in the Dáil and the debates here be properly and effectively reported. It is nonsensical, and it is degrading to Deputies, that, when a question is asked here, Radio Éireann reports that the Minister concerned said so-and-so in reply to a question. One would think that the question was put by some mummified figure and that a wise, intelligent and far-seeing Minister gave the answer. Our constituents are as much entitled to hear our names on the wireless as are the constituents of any Minister to hear his name. It would not lengthen the programmes by more than five minutes if the names of the Deputies who put questions in the Dáil to which Ministers reply were mentioned. I do not want to hear the childish answers from the Minister that there is not time to do that. That excuse does not "wash" and, if it is the only explanation the Minister can give, I do not want to hear it. We want accurate Dáil reports. Most of the reports are jumbled, not through the fault of the reporters or the announcers, but owing to the way the reports are given to them by the news agencies. Very often you listen to a report of a debate here. You hear the initial speaker. You continue listening and, after a considerable period, you find that somebody else's speech is being reported. No later than last night, in the report of the debate regarding reflections on the Chair, the proposer of the motion was mixed up with the proposer of the amendment. Some care should be given to those reports. Deputies who are sent here by their constituents should have equal rights with Ministers. The constituents of Deputies are paying licence fees and are contributing to the revenue of the station. They should be given an accurate, even if, owing to present restrictions, a concise report of the proceedings of this House. If a Deputy puts a question, his name, at least, should be mentioned even if the actual terms of the question are not given. The name of the person to whom the Minister replies should be stated and listeners should not be left under the impression that he has replied to some mythical figure or to some automaton, operated by the pressing of a button.
Subject to these remarks, I think that the station is, in the circumstances, doing well, but it should be appreciably improved. Before we embark on a new short-wave station, we should make available to the personnel of Radio Éireann better facilities and improved conditions for broadcasting. Radio Éireann should be completely equipped and furnished with the facilities generally associated with a broadcasting station before we embark on a new venture.