asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs where the postage stamps sponsored by the European Conference of Postal Telecommunications were printed, and the value of these stamps sold on the first day of issue; how these sales compare with similar previous issues; if he will now state what steps have been taken to date to introduce generally more colourful and attractive stamps of all denominations; and if there is any reason why these stamps should not be processed in the Government's printing office.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Stamp Issues.
28.
The "Europa" stamps issued in September last were printed in Dublin. The sales for philatelic purposes, which I presume is what the Deputy has in mind, are estimated very tentatively at £33,000 as compared with the previous record for such sales estimated at about £13,000. This was for the previous issue of "Europa" stamps—also produced in Dublin—in 1960.
The question of improving the stamps in our permanent series is still under examination, and the matter raised in the last part of the Deputy's question is one aspect of that examination. As I have previously indicated, the matter is complex and early results cannot be expected.
From the information the Minister has given us, will he not agree it appears to be a well worthwhile business to get into and that any expense involved in the printing of the stamps here would be well worthwhile?
Mr. Singer thought so in any case. I believe he is now living in the Canary Islands.
One canary was singing here today anyway.
He is living on my and our neighbours' money.
Did the Deputy put something into it, too?
No, but I spent a lot prosecuting them. It cost £250,000 of public money.
He was two years in jail all the same.
Two years! He ought to have spent the rest of his life in jail.
I thought Deputy Dillon was a great believer in the principle that a man is innocent until he is found guilty.
He was found guilty by a jury, but he wriggled out of it because you did not know how to do your job.
Why did you let him into the country?
We could not stop him. There are more rogues than he in the country. In any event, it was you who let him out of the country.
We must allow the business to proceed.