asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries the total cost of the full page advertisement which appeared in Sunday papers on 12th March 1967 relating to aids to Irish agriculture.
32.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Cost of Newspaper Advertisements.
31.
asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries the cost of advertisements in Sunday newspapers on behalf of his Department; and the reason for inserting the advertisements.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 31 and 32 together.
The total cost of inserting the advertisement in question in the two Sunday newspapers is £2,279 3s Od.
The advertisement was published for the purpose of giving basic information to the public on certain aspects of Government agricultural policy.
Is it not true that this was a question of spending the taxpayers' money on Fianna Fáil propaganda and that it was a deplorable waste of public money?
This was an effort on the part of the Government and myself, who have been so silent so long in the face of very great provocation, not least from the Benches opposite, to put the facts before the country, the public and the farmers and not allow them to be confused by propaganda.
Is the Minister aware that this was an effort to start class warfare, to inflame further an already dangerous situation and to prevent a settlement which the Minister knew was taking place between the Taoiseach and the NFA? Is that not true?
The Deputy does not know what he is talking about, nor does he want to tell anything that he knows unless it suits his political book.
We know the Minister's attitude. The Taoiseach was trying to effect a settlement and the Minister was trying to stymie it when he put that advertisement in the paper.
The fact is the Deputy does not know my attitude, and that is what is puzzling him and a few others over the past few months.
The Minister wants to start class warfare.
It is about time somebody knew the Minister's attitude.
Does anybody know his attitude?
I do.
What about the collective responsibility of the Government?
And my colleagues do.