asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if his attention has been called to large display advertisements inserted in the daily papers of 1st and 2nd March by the Radio Éireann Authority in regard to the journalists' dispute with the Authority; if he will state the cost of the advertisements, and by whom they are to be paid for; if the cost is to be paid out of funds entrusted to Radio Éireann, if he will state the statutory authority by which these funds are used for propaganda in an industrial dispute; and what action he proposes to take in the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Radio Éireann Journalists' Salary Claim.
47.
Mr. Ryan
I would suggest that the Deputy refer his inquiries to Radio Éireann as I have no function in this matter which is concerned with the day-to-day administration of the Broadcasting service.
Mr. Ryan
Would the Minister kindly state what is the statutory authority which Radio Éireann has to expend £2,000, or the equivalent of 500 TV licences, on publishing in the newspapers a gross misrepresentation of an industrial dispute?
That is entirely outside the question.
Mr. Ryan
I am asking the Minister to state the statutory authority whereby the Radio Éireann Authority has expended public funds in advertising a gross misrepresentation of the current industrial dispute?
That is outside the terms of the Question.
Mr. Ryan
With respect, the last three lines of my Question read:
...if he will state the statutory authority by which those funds are used for propaganda in an industrial dispute; and what action the Minister proposes to take in the matter.
I am telling the Deputy it is a matter entirely for Radio Éireann. I have no function in the matter.
Not at all!
Mr. Ryan
Is the Minister saying to the House that he cannot stop the Radio Éireann Authority deliberately suggesting to the public that these people, who are on strike, are looking for £34 4s. per week and comparing that with an alleged rate of £20 10s. received by journalists in Dublin newspapers, when the exact position is that they are comparing a maximum with a minimum.
Order.
Mr. Ryan
Poisoned water runs deep. The Minister should see the Attorney General before he talks about law.
The Deputy is not asking a question; he is making an argument.
And it is the Deputy who is putting forth propaganda.
Mr. Ryan
Is the Minister aware that in this advertisement Radio Éireann has compared the maximum paid to a chief sub-editor with the minimum pay to a journalist on a newspaper coming out of his apprenticeship?
I am calling Question No. 48.
Mr. Ryan
Is the Minister standing over a lie, a downright, despicable lie, on the part of the Radio Éireann authority? The Minister is covering up for his pal in Radio Éireann in this matter.
48.
Mr. Ryan
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs whether any direction was given by him or by any other member of the Government to the Radio Éireann Authority with regard to the attitude to be adopted by the Authority to the journalists' salary claim which is now the subject of dispute; and, if so, if he will state the terms of the direction.
No direction was given to the Radio Éireann Authority in this matter. The Authority did, however, apprise me, following the issue of the White Paper on Incomes and Output, that consideration was being given to the possibility of referring the dispute to the Labour Court —a course of action which seemed to me to be appropriate.
Mr. Ryan
Having regard to the fact that this claim was made about 18 months ago, before the Government issued this White Paper, would the Minister——
The matter is before the Labour Court and it would not be proper for me, or the Government, to enter into it.
Mr. Ryan
——say if it is proper that a direction should go out to stop these people getting a proper reward for their services? There has been a direction.
There has been no direction.
Mr. Ryan
There has been a direction. "A rose by any other name will smell as sweet."
The Deputy does not smell very sweet anyway.