asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if a recording of his speech at the presentation of prizes for the Macra na Feirme Grass Production Competition was used with his approval as part of an advertisement on Radio Éireann for a commercial product.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Use of Recording of Minister's Speech.
11.
A Macra na Feirme activities review is regularly included in a sponsored programme broadcast each Wednesday morning. A recording of my speech on the occasion referred to was made by Macra and extracts from it were used by them in the normal way in their review of activities on Wednesday 27th October. No question of obtaining my approval arose.
Is the Minister aware that the speech in question was used not by Macra na Feirme but by a commercial firm on last Wednesday morning between 8.45 and 9 o'clock. It was used by a commercial firm—I heard it myself—to advertise a commercial product and not the Macra programme.
I would not expect the Deputy to be terribly alert at 8.45 in the morning, and I think his recollection is mistaken. As a regular feature of this sponsored programme, there is included in it a Macra na Feirme review of activities. The extract of my speech was in the Macra review of activities and not in the sponsored programme as such.
I do not know whether the Minister was up at 8.45 or not that morning or any morning to listen to the programme, or even whether he was awake to listen to it in bed. On this occasion the Minister's speech was relayed and was immediately followed by "For the reasons given by the Minister, you should buy so-and-so's product."
It was a recording.
I do not think it was a recording of the speech the Minister made at the time. I think it was a special recording. On one occasion he said something worth being praised, but the praise from the audience was omitted when he made the special recording.
That is not fair. It is not correct. I am very happy my speech has excited such illustrious interest. The only recording made of my speech was made by Macra. An extract from that recording made by Macra was used in this activities review of theirs, which is part, admittedly, of a sponsored programme.
Does the Taoiseach consider it proper that statements by Ministers should be used on commercial radio for the purpose of advertising any particular brand of product?
I have heard quite a number of recorded speeches on that programme from time to time. Apparently, the Deputy only heard it for the first time.
The Deputy is aware this is the first time a Minister prostituted his high office for the purpose of commercial advertising.
I have heard a speech by myself.
In this particular programme, no less than six recorded extracts from speeches of Ministers, including Deputy Dillon, Deputy Corish and others, have been used.
I should like to see the proof of that because I heard exactly what transpired.