asked the Minister for Finance the total cost of recent Press advertisements which appeared in connection with the payment and non-payment of children's allowances under the 1973 budget.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Cost of Press Advertisements.
93.
Mr. Kenny
The total cost of the Press advertisement referred to was £2,533.61.
The advertisement appeared in the National dailies, Dublin and Cork evenings on Thursday, June 7th, in the three Irish Sunday newspapers on June 10th and in "Inniu" and "Amarach" on Friday June 23rd
Would the Parliamentary Secretary agree that it is only legitimate to spend public moneys on advertisements of this sort for informative purposes, that expenditure of public money in this way should be strictly confined to informing the public of the facts of a particular situation or a particular measure?
Mr. Kenny
That is the normal way of informing the public of relevant information.
Would the Parliamentary Secretary agree that these particular advertisements contain a great deal more than mere factual information, that, in fact, they contain political arguments?
Mr. Kenny
No, I do not agree with that, and if the Deputy can point out to me that they did contain political arguments, I should be glad if he would clarify the matter for me.
Would the Parliamentary Secretary not agree that the advertisements, in the presentation of facts, are selective and that the advertisements were designed to boost the budgetary provisions in a political way?
Mr. Kenny
No, I do not agree with that.
The Parliamentary Secretary is very innocent.
They were designed to attract attention.
Would the Parliamentary Secretary agree that if, perhaps, there was not a Presidential Election pending, they might not have appeared in such elaborate fashion.
Mr. Kenny
They would appear in the normal way to give relevant information to the public.
This was abnormal.
Would the Parliamentary Secretary not agree that in the normal way the Revenue Commissioners bring to the attention of every individual taxpayer particular provisions that the insertion of these advertisements in the newspapers at that time and in that way was simply naked political propaganda, and that it was entirely illegitimate that these advertisements should have been paid for out of public funds?
The Deputy is making a statement.