asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if, in view of the advantage now enjoyed by the Electricity Supply Board whereby the Board can advertise on the radio goods for sale by hire-purchase without stating the cash and the hire-purchase prices of such goods and the total number of hire-purchase instalments, he will introduce legislation to control radio advertising in a manner similar to the control now possible over visual advertising matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Control of Radio Advertising.
38.
Mr. Ryan
No provision was made in the Hire-Purchase (Amendment) Act, 1960 for the control of sound advertising of hire-purchase terms as it was considered that its impact is not as great as that of visual advertising and furthermore that it might be more difficult to control the spoken than the written word. As far as I am concerned these considerations are still valid.
Freedom in the matter of radio advertising is not confined to the Electricity Supply Board; all advertisers are in the same position in this respect.
Mr. Ryan
Does the Minister seriously contend that the ordinary shopkeeper who tries to sell electric kettles or washing machines on hire purchase is in the same position as the ESB to compete on the radio?
This was not the point. It was freedom in the matter of radio advertising and not ability to provide radio advertising.