asked the Minister for External Affairs if he will state the number of (i) daily newspapers and (ii) other newspapers and periodicals, distinguishing between newspapers and periodicals published in (a) Ireland, (b) United States of America and (c) elsewhere, which have entered into contracts for the regular supply of news by the Irish News Agency on the basis of a periodic fee, and the aggregate fees payable under such contracts; and also the number of news items supplied by the Irish News Agency to newspapers, otherwise than under contract, which have been published and paid for by newspapers in (a) Ireland, (b) United States of America and (c) elsewhere.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Irish News Agency Contracts.
The answer to the first part of the Deputy's question is that the Irish News Agency has not, as yet, entered into any contracts for the regular supply of news on the basis of a periodic fee. The answer to the second part of the Deputy's question is as follows:
The number of items published and already paid for in Ireland is 179; in the United States of America, 2; elsewhere, 13. In addition, the following items have been published and invoices have been sent out in respect of them, but they have not yet been paid for: Ireland, 133; United States of America, 58; elsewhere, 15. The total published on a commercial basis is, therefore, Ireland, 312; United States of America, 60; elsewhere, 28. These items range from two or three line paragraphs to reports or features of 2,000 words or more. The total number of words of Irish News Agency material published commercially is approximately 220,000, but returns for the last month are necessarily incomplete. The agency began its operations at the end of July; its outgoing services will not be in full operation before next year.