asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs what material his Department is in the habit of furnishing to members of the public who ask for general information about the EEC.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - EEC Information.
15.
The practice is to make available to the general public, on request, Government publications and statements in relation to the European Communities and also Community publications.
Would the acting Minister agree that members of the public who apply to the Department of Foreign Affairs for information about the EEC are entitled to learn the arguments for and against EEC membership?
The Department of Foreign Affairs are concerned with giving the facts.
It is like the drainage of the Shannon.
Indeed, the first of the leaflets about which the Minister has spoken concerning Ireland and the EEC has just been published and is being circulated to Members of the Oireachtas today and will be available to the general public.
Is the Minister aware that what members of the public who apply to that Department are getting in answer to their requests for bona fide information is Government propaganda which is being churned out and supplied by that Department at the expense of the taxpayer, as is happening all over the national scene?
The Deputy was an expert at propaganda at a certain period of time. At present the Department are concerned with the publication of facts.