asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if postage charges in respect of the issue by the National Coalition Committee on Information of guides to the changes in social welfare services and income tax allowances introduced in the recent budget was borne by his Department; and whether any civil servant is acting as secretary to this Committee.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Committee on Information.
18.
The National Coalition Committee on Information are an informal committee of backbenchers supporting the Government, who meet from time to time to discuss questions affecting the presentation of Government policy, in order to ensure that their constituents are kept adequately informed about all aspects of this. In view of the responsibilities assigned to me by the Taoiseach in this area, I act as chairman at meetings of the committee and, in accordance with normal practice, make use of the staffing and other facilities of my private office for the provision and circulation of official documentation to the members. A member of my private office staff assists me by taking notes for me of matters raised at meetings.
Is the National Coalition Committee a political committee rather than a departmental committee? We have the Government Information Services and, if this committee are a political committee, does the Minister think it right that a civil servant should act as secretary to the committee?
This is a meeting of Members of the Oireachtas in Government which is constituted of two political parties and in that sense it could, I suppose, be described certainly as political. They put to me, as the person having responsibility within the Cabinet for information policy, certain questions about the working of the information system and I provide them with answers as far as I can. If any other group of Deputies care to put questions of the same kind or to meet with me I should be very glad to supply them with any information in this area.
If this party decided to have a similar committee for the dissemination of propaganda, would they get a secretary from the civil service?
I said nothing about the dissemination of propaganda. This committee are concerned with the working of the Government Information Services and with ensuring that their constituents are kept more adequately informed of Government policy and activity. If Deputies opposite and their constituents wish also to be more fully informed I should be very happy to co-operate in the matter.
Is the Minister aware that when I made an application to the Government Information Services as a Fianna Fáil Whip, for a similar kind of service I was given to understand that the leaflets could be sent to Fianna Fáil Deputies if I sent over a collection of addressed envelopes? Does the Minister think that is giving the proper kind of treatment?
The question is a perfectly legitimate one. The Government Information Services function primarily for the information of the public through the Press and media but, in addition, they have supplied certain material, mainly on request, to Deputies. I have responsibility to this House and also in connection with the Government Information Services and if Deputies wish I would be happy to organise a service of this kind for them. I would be happy to meet Deputies who may be concerned about a more adequate flow of information to all Deputies. If Deputies opposite are interested in this matter I shall be glad to hear from them.
In his reply to the first part of the question, the Minister mentioned that a civil servant took notes at the meetings of the committee. Is he aware that a letter was issued to every Member on the Government side with this information and that it was signed by a civil servant who described himself as "secretary"? Am I to take it that we have a situation where officials of the civil service are acting as secretaries to a political organisation?
That is not so. The civil servant in question is in my private office and he acts as secretary to me when I act as chairman of the committee, as he acts in connection with all of my other official activities and as he would act were I to meet some of the Opposition Deputies who might be interested in this matter.