asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs why he nominated only two women to the Broadcasting Review Committee.
98.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - RTE Review Committee.
97.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs why a representative of the Society of Independent Film Makers has not been nominated to the RTE review committee.
99.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if representations were received from Irish Actors Equity for representation on the RTE review committee; if so, what consideration was given to their representations; and the reasons for not acceding to them.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 97, 98 and 99 together. Requests for representation on the Broadcasting Review Committee were received from a number of bodies including that referred to in Question No. 99. The members of the Broadcasting Review Committee were appointed on the basis of their personal suitability and not as representing particular sections of the community.
The Minister has not answered my question at all and he knows that quite well. He lumps it in with two other questions and does not give any answer whatever to it. This is not good enough. My question is quite a simple one: "To ask the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs why he nominated only two women to the Broadcasting Review Committee." I did not say one word about bodies or anything else.
I think my answer was a reasonable one.
Read it out again and we will see what reference it has to my question.
The part which I think would deal with Deputy O'Donovan's question is as follows:
The members of the Broadcasting Review Committee were appointed on the basis of their personal suitability and not as representing particular sections of the community.
I do not know whether women represent a section of the community but I should like to ask the Minister did he invite any women, other than the two who were appointed, to be members of the committee. Did he approach any other women? I am not trying to get him in a corner but did he, in fact, approach women other than the two who were appointed to a committee of 14.
I did not, no.
All I can say is that the Minister has a very peculiar idea about the suitable composition of a committee of this sort if he thinks that two women out of a committee of 14 are sufficient representation for one half of the community.
The wording of "personal suitability" which the Minister used is extremely vague. Personal suitability to whom, for what, in respect of which? By what criteria does he gauge personal suitability? We accept what he says, that these are not representatives of any groups. Therefore, what is the criterion or what are the criteria?
In appointing persons to a committee or a body such as this, people are selected on their ability or experience as individuals for the particular job given to that committee.
This makes it more confusing than ever. The public were not aware that many of the people concerned had any particular experience in this field—rather the contrary. I wonder would the Minister agree that the real criterion is whether a majority of the people so selected are regarded as personally suitable by the Fianna Fáil Party.
That charge is completely untrue.
Does the Minister not realise that there are many women who by reason of their experience in drama, music, and so on, would be extremely suitable for this body? Did it really not occur to the Minister to invite more than two women to act on this committee?
I agree with the Deputy that there are many women who could be considered and who could play an important part in this, but I am quite sure also that all those people will have an adequate opportunity of making their views known to the committee.
There is a difference between making representations and actually being on the committee. Does the Minister not realise that the composition of the committee, consisting as it does, of elderly, nice guys in the main, is not representative at all of the community?
No, I do not agree.
We can agree to disagree.
This is enlarging the scope of the question.
Arising out of the Minister's reply, does the Minister not agree that the Society of Independent Film Makers of Ireland were entitled to representation on this body because of the fact that they spent over £600,000 on the production of TV commercials for RTE and does he not agree that a body which has gone to that expense and has taken such an interest should be entitled to some representation? Furthermore, can he explain why Actors Equity, which wrote to him as long ago as last June asking that they be represented on this body, have received by way of reply merely a formal acknowledgment and no further communication of any kind?
I would like to tell the Deputy that many, many bodies and groups wanted representation on this committee. If one wants a committee which will work and do its job then the committee just cannot be too big. The case made for Film Makers is a case that could also be made for set makers and set renters and many other bodies.
Does the Minister not think that a body which spent a sum of over £600,000 on the production of commercials for RTE should be entitled to representation? Other people may look for representation but I wonder if these others would spend so much and take such an interest in the production of commercials for RTE?
I think Deputy Belton is under the impression that because these groups have no nominees on this body their views will not be heard. That is not so. Anybody who is interested will be quite free to come along and make their views clearly known to the broadcasting committee.
I am not suggesting for a moment that their views will not be heard, but is this body not a responsible and reasonable body?
Of course it is a responsible body and a reasonable body, as are many other bodies which would think they also should have nominees.
What method did the Minister use in making the appointments? How has he decided who should be appointed and who should not?
Elderly men are always reasonable.
I know some elderly men in this House and they are not always reasonable.
It is strange that in the composition of this body the Minister could not have even one man as young as himself on the committee, apart altogether from there being no woman on it.
That is a different matter altogether.