asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether any restrictions are imposed on the chairman of Aer Linte by his terms of appointment in regard to commenting on matters which concern the political policy or action of previous Governments; and whether similar restrictions are applied in the case of chairmen of other State bodies.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Aer Linte Chairman: Terms of Appointment.
The terms of appointment in this, as in other cases, relate to the duration of the appointment, the remuneration, if any, that is payable, and the extent of the appointee's time that must be devoted to the duties of the office.
I asked whether any restrictions are imposed on the chairman of Aer Linte by his terms of appointment in regard to commenting on matters which concern the political policy or action of previous Governments. In case that is not sufficiently clear to the Minister I shall put it in another way. What I want to know is whether the chairmen of State-sponsored bodies are entitled to pontificate in public on the actions or the policies of Governments, either past or present?
There is not, and never has been, any restriction placed on the chairmen of State-sponsored bodies with regard to their public statements.
May I take it then, that that statement made by the chairman of a State-sponsored body and reflecting on Government policy has the approval of the present Government in so far that the Minister does not propose to restrict such chairmen from making such pronouncements?
There is no restriction in the warrants of appointment.
May we take it then, that they may continue to make allegations and pronunciamentos of that kind?
There is nothing in their warrants of appointment which prevents their doing it.
Does the Minister for Industry and Commerce, as the person responsible for making these appointments, think it proper that these people should deliver themselves in public of pronouncements commenting on the actions of Governments and political Parties?
That is a separate question.
That is a separate matter entirely.
I shall come back to this again.