asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he is aware that an insufficient quantity of newsprint is being made available to provincial newspapers; and, if so, whether be will take steps to see that there will be a fair allocation of the available newsprint, as between the daily and provincial newspapers.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Newsprint Supplies.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he is aware that the Industrial Development Authority has neglected to reply to communications from the secretary of the organisation of the provincial Press of the Republic, warning it of the serious position confronting provincial papers, some of which will be without newsprint in four weeks and will therefore have to cease publication, owing to the monopoly of the import of newsprint being in the hands of the organisation representing the daily papers and who are withholding reasonable supplies from those provincial papers and job printers, and if, in view of the importance of those provincial papers, which are the only source of news to probably 90 per cent. of the rural community, he will take steps to ensure that their proportionate share of the imports will be allotted to them on the basis of their purchases in the past three years.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state whether he is prepared to allow the provincial newspapers to import their own newsprint in the same way as they did up to December, 1948.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he is aware that the Dublin newspaper managers committee claim and exercise a complete monopoly over all tonnage of imported newsprint and reserve the right to give or withhold newsprint to the provincial newspapers, and if he is further aware that most of the provincial Press is without newsprint and that serious unemployment is threatened thereby; and what action he proposes to take in the matter.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether he is aware of the serious position facing the provincial newspapers as a result of the operations of a monopoly controlling the supply of newsprint and that, while provincial papers have received warning of a forthcoming cut of 20 per cent. in the present year of their annual supply, the daily and Sunday papers are still guaranteed unrestricted supplies; and, if so, whether he will take steps to remedy the position and permit the provincial papers to purchase supplies through their own organisation and independent of an organisation concerned practically exclusively with Dublin papers.
With the permission of the Leas-Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 21, 22, 23, 24 and 25 together. There are no restrictions of any kind on the importation into this country of newsprint. Such supplies as are available are coming forward under long-term contracts placed by the purchasers some considerable time ago.
The question of supplies of newsprint for the provincial newspapers and job printers is at present the subject of discussion with the various parties concerned and in the circumstances I do not, at this stage, propose to make any further statement in the matter.
Is the Minister aware that previous to December, 1948, there was a free import into this country of newsprint and that a rationing system was then imposed which has militated against the provincial newspapers and which is allowing the Dublin newspapers to monopolise the newsprint at the moment?
Will the Minister undertake to have the managers of provincial newspapers present at the conference as well as the managers of the daily newspapers? Will he also consider allowing the managers of provincial newspapers to import their own requirements of newsprint as distinct from the people who have a monopoly at present in regard to the import of newsprint?
I think neither of the Deputies who put the supplementary questions listened to the reply. The reply opens by saying that there are no restrictions of any kind on the importation into this country of newsprint. There is no monopoly and there is no confinement of the imports to any particular combination. Owing, however, to some people being able to buy in large quantities and others being only able to order in small quantities, the flow has been unduly in one direction. There is a conference being held at the moment in my Department representative of the provincial Press and the whole matter is being gone into.
Is it a fact that during the last emergency one particular daily paper had a monopoly and that the then Minister for Industry and Commerce ordered a pooling of the resources which met the requirements of those concerned? Could not a similar procedure be adopted now?
The whole question is under discussion at a conference at the moment. I do not think there is any point, when the whole matter is under discussion and may be settled to the satisfaction of all concerned, in invoking anything like emergency powers and there is certainly no occasion for holding a post-mortem on past events.
Does the Minister assert that the protest made by the provincial newspapers is groundless and that the difficulties associated with obtaining newsprint are imaginable?
I do not know whether it is the Deputy or myself who is stupid.
I will give you three guesses.
Either of us certainly must be. There is nothing in my reply——
I am not saying there is.
——repudiating suggestions of that kind. The provincial Press are suffering from lack of newsprint. I am trying to assist them by means of a friendly conference between the Department and the bigger newsprint purchasers. I think it would be better to leave it at that.
The Minister thinks a satisfactory solution of their difficulties will be found.
I am always an optimist, anyway.