asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if complaints have reached his Department respecting the possibility of conversations over the telephone being overheard outside the public kiosks supplied by his Department throughout the State, and if he will consider the advisability of having this defect in the kiosks remedied as early as possible.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Telephone Conversations.
The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. The existing type of street kiosk affords a reasonable degree of privacy and it is considered that special measures to secure greater secrecy are not warranted.
Very often these kiosks are situated in post offices in country areas and these are shops where there is general dealing. It is well known that conversations can be heard outside the kiosks. Will the Minister have an investigation to see whether or not these kiosks are built in such a way that conversations can be heard in these buildings?
As I have already indicated, we have very few complaints as to the secrecy afforded in the ordinary kiosks. We have had complaints in places where there were no kiosks but I will look into the matter.