asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs whether he is aware that the advertisement, "Want to travel abroad? Don't dream about it—make it a reality with regular deposits in the Post Office Savings Bank," which he has caused to be displayed on buses, has the effect of encouraging the export of Irish money; and, if so, if he will have it withdrawn.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Post Office Savings Bank Advertisement.
I am not aware that the advertisement referred to has the effect stated. The advertisement is addressed to people who are already interested in foreign travel, with the object of inducing them to save for that purpose through the Post Office Savings Bank, just as other advertisements in the current publicity campaign are addressed to parents who want to provide for the education of their families, to young people who want to get married, and so on, the object in all cases being to encourage people to use the savings facilities provided by the Department of Posts and Telegraphs.
Could I ask why the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs is endeavouring to increase the deficit in the balance of payments while the Minister for Finance sells Tulyar to rectify that position?
The encouragement in the advertisements is not to do the various things for which people need money, but to save through the savings services provided by the Department of Posts and Telegraphs, irrespective of the objects of the saving, and the various objects mentioned, only one of which the Deputy quoted, are merely examples selected from the normal objects for which, in fact, provident people do save.