asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if his attention has been directed to a statement attributed to the chairman of Córas Iompair Éireann and published in a Dublin evening paper on the 28th October, 1952, and in the Dublin morning papers of the 29th October, 1952, as having been conveyed to a Deputy of Dáil Éireann, regarding certain alterations in services on a Dublin City bus route; whether the conditions of appointment of the chairman of Córas Iompair Éireann included any provisions governing the issue of information to Deputies of Dáil Éireann, and whether he will take steps with a view to preventing a recurrence of the procedure followed in this case and of ensuring that the practice which has hitherto obtained will be reverted to whereby such information will in future be conveyed to the general public through the Public Relations Officer, Córas Iompair Éireann, by means of a general Press announcement.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Statement on Córas Iompair Éireann Services.
I have seen the reports to which the question refers and which were, I understand, based upon a personal letter sent to a Deputy by the chairman of Córas Iompair Éireann concerning certain alterations in the service on a Dublin City bus route.
The conditions of appointment of the chairman of Córas Iompair Éireann do not include any provisions governing the issue of information to Deputies of Dáil Éireann. While it is open to Deputies to make inquiries from the board in regard to matters affecting their constituencies, nevertheless I consider it desirable that information concerning decisions of the board on matters of general public interest should be conveyed to the public through the normal channels of the board, and I propose to convey this view to the board.
Is the Minister aware that this has been the practice for quite a considerable time, that letters similar to this have been addressed to members of all Parties in this House and that at least it has been claimed that the majority of these letters were sent to members of the Fianna Fáil party?
Is the Minister aware that it is hard enough to squeeze information out of Córas Iompair Éireann without giving them any excuse to clamp down on the giving of information through any source?
Is the Minister aware that it is the practice of Córas Iompair Éireann to write direct to private individuals, to members of organisations, and to organisations themselves which are responsible associations giving particulars on request about their services?
I am aware of that but in the particular case to which the question refers the matter was one of considerable public controversy and, in such cases, I think that the board should be at pains to avoid the suspicion of being influenced by political considerations.
Is the Minister aware that, within the last three weeks, a letter was addressed, concerning the extension of a very necessary new service, to a very prominent member of the Minister's own Party in reply to a letter which he had addressed to the chairman of Coras Iompair Éireann? I saw it in the public Press.
I have no desire to prevent Deputies getting information concerning their constituencies from the board, but where decisions are taken by the board which are of general public interest there should be at least simultaneous publication through the normal channels.
I am not disagreeing at all with that, but I want to dissipate the attempt which is being made in this question to suggest that only a member or members of a particular political Party get this information.
In view of the nature of the Minister's statement, I want to ask him are we to be in the position, say, in the future that, if I address a letter to the chairman of the Electricity Supply Board or to the chairman of the Industrial Credit Corporation about a matter of general policy rather than one dealing with my own constituency, the chairman of either of these bodies is not going to be allowed to reply to me directly on a question of general policy?
I do not think that the Deputy should get information upon matters of general policy in advance of the rest of the public. My view is that announcements on matters of general policy should be made through the normal publicity channels.
Question No. 6.
Mr. Byrne
With your permission——
Is this question?
Mr. Byrne
This question arises out of a letter addressed to myself in reply to one which I wrote on behalf of my constituents about the withdrawal of a bus with the result that people were left standing in the rain.
Speech!
Mr. Byrne
In the question he says——
That is not a question.
Mr. Byrne
May I say——
Mr. Byrne
I beg to give notice that I will raise this matter on the Adjournment.