asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs (a) the names of the members of Comhairle Radio Eireann, (b) the nature of their duties and the number of times the comhairle has met during the past year, and (c) how many programmes have been broadcast by Radio Eireann at the suggestion of members of the comhairle, and if any programme has been broadcast to which a member or members of the comhairle objected; further, when the term of office of the present comhairle expires.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Comhairle Radio Eireann.
(a) The names of the members of Comhairle Radio Eireann are: Charles J. Brennan, Patrick Lynch, Padraig Mac Con Midhe, Theodore William Moody, Seán Ó Súilleabháin.
(b) The duties laid down for the comhairle are to advise and assist the Minister in the conduct of the broadcasting service and to exercise general control and supervision over the service. The comhairle acts in an executive as well as in an advisory capacity. The comhairle met 16 times during 1954 and five times so far in 1955. Between meetings the chairman is in regular consultation with the director.
(c) It is not a normal function of the comhairle to suggest individual programmes and they would not ordinarily express objections to programmes unless something like a serious breach of taste or a matter of policy were involved; no such objections were reported to me. I understand, however, that general programme matters involving issues of policy are regularly discussed at meetings of the comhairle attended by the director.
The term of office for which the comhairle was appointed expired on the 31st December, 1954, but I have asked them to continue to act temporarily without a definite date limit.