asked the Taoiseach how many persons based in the Government Information Bureau as writers in connection with events in Northern Ireland, have resigned; and the reasons for such resignations.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Government Information Bureau.
1.
Two members of the augmented staff of the Government Information Bureau resigned during September. I understand that their resignations were for purely personal reasons.
2.
asked the Taoiseach if control of the enlarged Government Information Bureau service has passed from the Minister for Industry and Commerce; if so, when; to whom this control has passed; how many extra public relations staff are still employed by the Bureau and where they are serving; and if he will give an estimate of the cost to the taxpayer for the operation up to now.
The Minister for Industry and Commerce did not control the Government Information Bureau at any stage. As is clear from the press release issued by me through the Bureau on the 21st August, 1969, the Minister acted on my behalf in August, when he briefed the augmented public relations staff.
At present there are eight public relations staff serving in a temporary capacity with the bureau, six of whom are serving in the following posts abroad, namely, New York, Stockholm, Paris, Copenhagen and Canberra. I am not yet in a position to estimate the cost of the special news service relating to the situation in the Six Counties.
I take it, therefore, that the Government Information Bureau is under the control and jurisdiction of the Taoiseach?
Yes, as always.
Will the Taoiseach say why responsibility for it was given over to the Minister for Industry and Commerce and not to the Tánaiste?
Responsibility was not given over to the Minister for Industry and Commerce.
Temporarily?
Not even temporarily.
Perhaps, I misunderstood the Taoiseach. Would he read the first sentence of his reply again?
"The Minister for Industry and Commerce did not control the Government Information Bureau at any stage." On one occasion when it was felt necessary to talk to the assembled personnel I found that circumstances prevented me from being present and at very short notice the Minister for Industry and Commerce acted in my stead.
Why not the Tánaiste?
Because the Tánaiste was not available as far as I know at the time.
That is fair enough. He is third in the Cabinet. Right?
Do not be stirring up trouble now.
I rang a couple of Ministers that day and the first Minister I got was the Minister for Industry and Commerce.
He is third in the Cabinet.
Will the Taoiseach tell me what was the real need for this new service? Would the Taoiseach not admit that our existing news media— the newspapers, radio and television— were doing an excellent job in getting the truth across to the world? Would the Taoiseach not further admit that foreign correspondents, even English, French and American were quite favourable to our point of view?
That seems to be a different question, Deputy.
No, I do not think so. The question relates to the cost of the service. I am asking what was the reason for spending the taxpayers' money on this when it was being done equally well by other media already there.
The Deputy ought to know that our press, television or radio do not get across to the rest of the world. They have limited circulation. If the Deputy either listened to or read the speech I made in the debate we had on the day of the reassembly of the Dáil, I said that the Government Information Bureau and embassies abroad were inundated with requests for news about the situation, about the immediate background and about the historical background to it, and I have heard from many sources commendations of the service we provided in this respect. May I add that I think I did in my statement on that day pay tribute, which I am glad to repeat again, to the Irish news media?
Would the Taoiseach not agree that it would be, perhaps, more to the point if we appointed an ambassador to Copenhagen which we have not done especially in view of the fact that Denmark is an applicant country to the EEC instead of sending a propagandist there?
We did not send a propagandist anywhere and I want to make that perfectly clear. It was an information service. As far as the appointment of an ambassador to Copenhagen is concerned that will be done when it seems necessary.
How did the International Press Association come into all this? Would they not do part, if not all, of the job in the dissemination of information?
Very well, too.
That is true but on the other hand I felt that Irish minds and Irish expertise would be better to get our point of view across.