asked the Minister for Transport and Power whether he is aware that the Public Relations Officer of the ESB has sent a circular to all national teachers asking them to organise pupils to enter a scholarship competition, one of the conditions of which is that the pupils should purchase the Irish Press on given dates; and whether he will instruct the ESB to discontinue such support of a particular newspaper out of public funds.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Scholarship Competition.
20.
I am informed by the ESB that the circular referred to in the question was issued in connection with a scholarship competition organised jointly by the Irish Press and ESB on the initiative of the Irish Press. This was an example of joint commercial enterprise to which I can see no objection.
I may add that an essay competition operated for some years past by CIE and the Sunday Independent required an entrant to purchase a copy of that paper; I see no objection to that either.
Would the Minister tell us if he regards it as an impropriety to have the ESB and the teachers organise the children to purchase the Irish Press? There is no comparison whatsoever between this and the other case the Minister cited. In this case, the Irish Press got the ESB, a national organisation owned by the people, to do its work or to get another organisation, the Irish National Teachers' Organisation, to do it. It is a gross misuse of the funds of this State body——
Will the Deputy ask a question?
I am asking the Minister if he is aware that his reply is completely inadequate. I am asking him if he sees no impropriety in it. If he does not, he is not fit for the office he holds.
I cannot understand the point made by the Deputy.
The point is that you have used public funds to buttress your newspaper.
Any daily newspaper can make the same arrangements.
But they have not the cheek to ask the ESB to do their work.
The ESB did not subsidise the Irish Press. They did not issue any further advertisements than they normally do and which they allocate equally among the newspapers. They did get a great deal of free publicity, to which they were entitled. Any newspaper can make the same arrangement, against which I can see no objection whatsoever.
Does the Minister not see anything wrong with the ESB doing the work of the Irish Press?
I cannot allow it. Question No. 21.
With your permission, Sir, I propose to raise this matter on the Adjournment.