asked the Minister for Transport and Power whether he has inquired into the reason which led the B & I to have their 1969 calendar printed in Italy; if so, if he will state the reasons; and what steps are being taken to ensure that all bodies for which he is responsible utilise home products.
Ceisteanna—Questions Oral Answers. - B & I Calendar.
8.
It is the policy of the B & I Company, in common with other semi-State bodies, to buy Irish to the greatest practicable extent. I understand from the company that in conformity with this policy almost their entire requirements of publicity material are obtained in this country. The case mentioned by the Deputy was exceptional in that it required a special printing process which so far as the company could ascertain was not available here. I should add that the value of the order represented an insignificant portion of the company's total expenditure on publicity.
Could the Minister tell us the value of the order that was so insignificant?
I think I would be disclosing an individual price.
Why did the Minister say it was insignificant then?
I said the total amount of money spent abroad on publicity in the form of printed matter is negligible—well over 90 per cent of the total amount spent on publicity is spent here.
A calendar was printed abroad by a process which the Minister says was not available here. Surely by a slight difference in policy this calendar could have been printed by processes available here.
It was a question of the quality applying to a particular type of pocket plastic calendar, I understand, but the Deputy need have no fear. B & I are adopting an excellent Buy Irish attitude.
The Minister gives lectures up and down the country on the Irish economy and one of his own State concerns goes outside the country for business. The Minister is showing a very bad example.
Question No. 9.
The company undertakes a great deal of publicity of various kinds using all sorts of posters and other types of modern publicity, and yet well over 90 per cent of that publicity is printed here. I think they can be said to be setting a pretty good example to the rest of the community.
The Minister goes round giving open air lectures on socialism.