asked the Minister for External Affairs if he can give particulars of the publications issued by the Ulster Unionist Council, Belfast, in the course of the last couple of years; and, if so, if he will arrange to have copies of these made available in the Library of the Oireachtas.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Ulster Unionist Council Publications.
I have had a list prepared in my Department of all the publications issued since the war by the Ulster Unionist Council, and I am arranging for copies to be placed in the Library of the Oireachtas.
Occasionally leaflets and pamphlets are prepared by the council for local or for other selective circulation, and I am always grateful when my Department's attention is drawn to such publications.
What steps will be taken to counteract this propaganda?
To tell the truth.
We are sending out the truth as widely as we can in the matter.
Can the Minister state whether any of this propaganda has been given out to the tourist offices in Belfast?
I have heard that some of it has.
asked the Minister for External Affairs if his attention has been drawn to a propagandacard issued by the Ulster Unionist Council, Belfast, giving false and misleading information concerning the infantile mortality rates in the Twenty-Six Counties and the Six Counties; and, if so, if he will state what steps he is taking to counteract this false propaganda throughout the world.
The propaganda card issued by the Ulster Unionist Council, Belfast, and which was circulated privately in the United States, was brought to public attention in my Department's Bulletin for May 11th. The article in the Bulletin showed how completely false were the allegations with reference to the infantile mortality rates in the Twenty-Six Counties. As the Deputy is aware, the Bulletin is widely circulated abroad, particularly in the United States and Britain.
The Bulletin's article of May 11th was reprinted in the Irish Pressof May 14th. I am not yet aware whether it was reprinted in any foreign newspapers, but it is reasonable to assume that it will be.
I have also taken steps to see that the Belfast Government's retraction of the allegations in the propaganda card is given wide publicity.
Do I understand from the Minister's reply that the Belfast Government have withdrawn the allegation?
They have admitted the facts, in answer to a parliamentary question—the facts which the Minister for Health has given here to-day, that is, that instead of 83 per 1,000, the rate was 41.