Vol. 258 No. 12
asked the Taoiseach the cost of printing, circulating and compiling the booklet containing speeches and statements on Irish Unity, Northern Ireland and Anglo-Irish relations; why certain statements of his are omitted from this booklet; if it is the Government's intention to publish the speeches of other members of the Government, ex-members of the Government and members of the Dáil from the Government party and the Opposition; and if not, why.
3.
andMr. Fox asked the Taoiseach the total cost of producing the recent booklet containing speeches and statements by him relating to events in Northern Ireland.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 2 and 3 together.
The cost of printing, compiling and circulating the booklet is estimated at £1,360. It includes all revelant statements made by me between the 13th August, 1969, and the 20th October, 1971, except where, as indicated in the preface, there has been editing so as to reduce unnecessary repetition. The question of publishing speeches and statements of other members of the Government, ex-members of the Government and members of the Dáil— either from the Government Party or the Opposition parties—has not arisen in this context.
When the Taoiseach states that all relevant statements made by him are published, will he not admit that some things are left out, that correct reports are not made even of his own statements? I would ask why the Taoiseach left out that beautiful word "idly", that signifies so much as far as he and the Government are concerned, from the phrase "standing idly by"? Was that left out deliberately?
Not at all.
I would love to know why that word was left out.
I do not know. I am not a lithographer.
Why was the word "idly" left out?
It has got hackneyed since you started to use it.
It is not too hackneyed so far as the Government are concerned.
Is the Taoiseach suggesting it is an inadvertent misprint?
I am not suggesting anything.
It was either left out deliberately or inadvertently. The Taoiseach will accept that hypothesis?
It is possible, yes.
One or the other. If it is not inadvertent it is deliberate. Is the Taoiseach then saying it was deliberately left out?
I am not saying that either.
Would the Taoiseach answer the question?
I am not answering the Deputy's questions. I am not one of his schoolboys.
The Taoiseach is not prepared to tell the truth.
This is purely argumentative.
