On Wednesday, 13th May, I addressed a question to the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs. The terms of the question were:—
"To ask the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he is aware that during a sponsored broadcast on 24th April a song was recited containing an insulting reference to the former Minister; and, if so, what steps he proposes to take in the matter."
The Minister replied:—
"In the ordinary way I propose to maintain the independence of Comhairle Radio Éireann by asking Deputies to make representations direct to Radio Éireann, but as the question involves a member of the House I feel it right to give a full explanation.
The reference to the former Minister, which was broadcast in a sponsored programme on April 17th, was jocose but not insulting. I understand that this record was not passed for inclusion in the programme by the Radio Éireann staff, and the producers of the programme have since apologised for including it.
I should add that I will give every encouragement to the director to make use of traditional or current political ballads, songs and comedy patter such as can be heard at concerts and variety shows all over the democratic world, using discrimination to ensure that there is genuine humour and that the composition is not vicious in content. Songs have been sung already about Ministers in office and there have been no complaints. I do not propose to inquire into the character of the song referred to by the Deputy, but to rely on the good sense of the director for having not passed it for broadcasting."
The very last sentence of the Minister's reply states that he will rely on the good judgment of the Director of Broadcasting.
In this case we are told that the director used his good judgment and did not pass this particular record for broadcasting. My reason for raising this matter to-night is to find out through what machinery in Radio Éireann a record has been broadcast which was rejected. What machinery has the Minister available at Radio Éireann to ensure that a record which has been rejected as unfit and unsuitable for the air and, in the good judgment of the Director of Broadcasting, should not be used will not be broadcast? In this instance, the record was definitely rejected by the Director of Broadcasting. The broadcastingauthorities decided that this particular record was considered unfit and was considered insulting. It was thought first of all to be political because the record in question dealt with the appointment of the sub-postmistress at Baltinglass and, in the course of a song, the former Minister for Posts and Telegraphs and others who were concerned with the appointment were referred to. The Minister states that this was not insulting but it was jocose. Can you picture the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs, knowing the Minister as we do, asking us to have a bit of humour? If that came from the Minister for Finance it could be understood but it is fantastic to hear the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs asking us to have humour and going on to say that songs had been sung over the radio concerning other Ministers and no complaints were made.
How did it so happen that out of every record that was rejected as being unsuitable for broadcasting, the very one that was used was the one connected with the Baltinglass Post Office? How did it so happen that of all the records that were in Radio Éireann the very one to be rejected was the one dealing with the Baltinglass Post Office and the very one that was singled out as an advertisement for Cott's of Kilcock was connected with the Baltinglass Post Office?
If the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs wanted a bit of humour, he could take the necessary steps to put on the air without delay My Little Angeland give us the other side of a bit of humour. It is all right to say that we will have humour and have a joke at someone else's expense. How was it that it was not something in the nature of a skit at the Fianna Fáil Party and that the skit had to be directed towards a former Minister of State? The skit had to be directed towards the Baltinglass Post Office because it was on the Baltinglass Post Office that the Fianna Fáil Party focussed their attention some time ago. When it was considered that it had been left on the shelf, they had to take down this record, wipe away the dust and shake off the cobwebs; and even though the director decided it was not to be used, it was used for the purposeof stirring up a little reminder for the people in the Wicklow by-election, a little reminder to the listeners in Wicklow, Bray, Arklow and in Baltinglass and Enniskerry and even on the top of the Sugar Loaf if there was a radio there. Because he wants a joke, a bit of humour, we must hear all about the battle of Baltinglass in Cott's sponsored programme.
Although the Minister is anxious for a bit of humour and a joke, he does not attempt to have the joke at the expense of one of his own colleagues. It was not "Peadar on the Treetop" we heard. There was no question of that but it was Baltinglass Post Office that was picked out. There was no question of their putting on that record "My Little Angel" because if it were put on the Minister would probably lose his ministerial rank within 24 hours for daring to put on a record which would even insinuate any connection between "My Little Angel" and any member of the Government Party. Then there was no question of their putting on—
"The long and the short and the tall
Bless de Valera and Seán MacEntee
They gave us black bread and a half ounce of tea."
How was it that record was not put on?