asked the Minister for External Affairs if he will state in regard to the winding-up of the Irish News Agency (a) if it has been completed; (b) the total number of persons whose employment has been terminated, or otherwise affected; (c) the estimated annual saving to the Exchequer; and (d) what continuing liabilities or contractual commitments will remain, and their estimated cost and duration.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Irish News Agency.
The answer to the Deputy's question in regard to the Irish News Agency is:—(a) The winding-up of the agency has not yet been completed; (b) I understand from the board of the agency that the total number of whole-time employees employed by the agency as of the 15th of this month was 38, and that their employment was terminated on that date. Thirty-three of these employees have been re-employed by the agency on a day-to-day basis; (c) the average annual cost to the Exchequer of the agency over the last three financial years was £45,000; (d) when the agency is finally wound up, there will be no continuing commitments.
Is the Minister in a position to indicate when the agency will be finally wound up? In connection with the latter portion of the Minister's reply, is it likely that these liabilities or commitments will continue for a matter of months or years? Can the Minister give any idea of the period?
When the agency is wound up, it will be wound up; that will be the end of it.
That is what I would describe as a smart answer.
It was not a very smart question.
Obviously, the agency will not be wound up until the liabilities are completely extinct. Can the Minister give any idea as to how long they are likely to continue from now?
The agency is in the course of being wound up, as I have informed the Deputy.
Is it not a fact that there is one contract to run for about eight years more? Can the Minister not answer? It was the Minister himself who signed the contract.
When the agency is wound up, it will be wound up.
Has the Minister taken any steps to cancel the contract which he personally signed when he was previously Minister for External Affairs and Acting Minister for Finance? Is it so that that contract has eight years to run? He walked as Minister for External Affairs from one side of the room to the other to calm himself as Minister for Finance.
That is a separate question.
I want to point out that I asked in part (d) of my question for the estimated cost and duration of contractual commitments and I have not got the answer.
I have no responsibility for the answer the Deputy got. Question No. 10.