asked the Minister for Justice whether any direction, request, intervention or expression of desire on the part of himself or any member of the Government was communicated directly or indirectly to Radio Telefís Éireann or to any officer or employee of Radio Telefís Éireann in regard to a programme planned for Seven Days on Friday, 17th April, 1970, dealing with allegations about police work and bank robberies; whether, if any direction, request, intervention or expression of desire not to transmit this programme was made by or on behalf of the Taoiseach or by any member of the Government, such request took the form of a written direction under section 31 (1) of the Broadcasting Authority Act, 1960; and, if not, why.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - RTE Programme.
7.
The approach in this matter came from Radio Telefís Éireann via the Government Information Bureau. RTE invited the Minister for Justice to appear on a programme to discuss the article in Hibernia of the 17th April last entitled “The Bank Robberies: Why an Inquiry is Called For”. The Minister declined to appear and, in doing so, he gave RTE, via the Government Information Bureau, his views as to the propriety of having the discussion at all in view of the fact that the matters in question related to criminal law and might at any time become the subject of court proceedings—proceedings which might be prejudiced by the public discussion proposed. I invite the attention of the House to the statement published by RTE that the decision not to proceed with the programme was taken by the authority, and to the reasons for that decision which were given in the statement.
Is the Minister aware of the grave concern felt in this country at the present time at the cancellation of this Seven Days programme and also at the disclosures which were made in this article and which have not since been denied by the Government and also at the drift to anarchy in this country and the grave dereliction of duty by the Minister for Justice and Department of Justice in facing up to their responsibilities over the past year and even at the present time?
Mr. J. Lenehan
Bring in the Blue Shirts again.
Turnover Joe.
I am concerned in this House about the independence of the judiciary and of the courts.
Have we now arrived at a stage where we have political touts in RTE who are prepared to save this Government from political embarrassment and to cover up their dereliction of duty? Is the Minister aware that today anarchists, murderers and bank robbers are roaming the streets of this city and country due to the fact that the Department of Justice have not done their duty for the last year or two?
The Deputy is using terminology that aptly describes himself.
Is the Minister further aware that the Government are not prepared to face up to their responsibility for base political reasons?
Would the Minister not agree that the appropriate method for communicating his views with regard to the propriety of a programme of this kind would be through the channel of the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs and such communication should be in writing in accordance with section 31 of the Act?
A point of view was expressed. It was a matter for the authority after that.
Would the Minister not agree that that would be the proper way of communicating the views of the Government?
A point of view was expressed—no more than that.