asked the Minister for Health the control, if any, which he has over the manner in which the Health Education Bureau spends its financial allocation.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Health Education Bureau.
27.
The Health Education Bureau (Establishment) Order (S.I. No. 22 of 1975) gives the Minister wide powers of control in relation to the bureau's spending of its allocation. The Order provides, inter alia, (i) that the bureau shall submit to the Minister such information regarding the performance of its functions as the Minister may from time to time require; and (ii) that the Minister may, as he thinks fit, declare that any of the powers vested in the bureau in relation to the appointment and employment of staff shall be exercisable only with his consent.
The bureau's annual budget is discussed with the Department and is submitted to me for approval, as a matter of course.
I might add that I am quite satisfied with the existing arrangements, which operate very satisfactorily.
I am sure the Minister is. There was an earlier question asked to which the reply fortuitously was in the form of a tabular statement so that the House has not the benefit of the information.
What information does the Deputy want? I will give it to him.
Was the Minister aware of a criticism in relation to the lavish nature of the diary and other annual literature published this year by the bureau?
I was genuinely not aware of any such criticism.
Is the Minister not aware they produced this very lavish desk diary?
Not nearly as lavish as the Vocational Education Committee for County Dublin——
I was not aware that there was any element of criticism of that particular activity by the Health Education Bureau. I would have thought that it was a particularly desirable production because it is intended primarily for general practitioners. I would regard it as beneficial and advantageous that as many general practitioners as possible would use that diary and be constantly reminded of the desirability of impressing good health practices on their patients. It surprises me genuinely that the Deputy would criticise that particular activity.
No, I asked the Minister if he was aware of any criticism. I did not express any. The other area which has been the subject of some criticism is the involvement of the bureau in the sponsorship of show jumping.
I thought that was an excellent decision by the Health Education Bureau. This indoor show jumping event was the first ever in this country. It was a major sporting event. Through the efforts of the bureau and other interested parties we succeeded in having it and ensuring that it was sponsored entirely without any participation by a tobacco or drink company. In addition, I would have thought that because of the television and other media coverage it got it was an excellent occasion on which to preach the positive health message.
I accept, as I am sure the House does, the Minister's appreciation of the widespread publicity which the event received but did the bureau or the Minister not find any embarrassment in the fact that the majority of the main prizewinners were horses named after a tobacco firm and that the amount of advertising they received was at least as great as, if not greater than what the Health Education Bureau received?
I think that particular tobacco company would receive that publicity anyway because from their own point of view they were clever enough to select some of the best horses in the country and use them for their own shrewd commercial advertising purposes. Unfortunately, there is nothing I can do about that. So far as the event is concerned I am quite satisfied that participation by the Health Education Bureau in it was absolutely beneficial and did give them the opportunity of focussing an enormous amount of media attention on their activities.
Could the Minister give an indication of the amount of money that was devoted to that sponsorship by the bureau?
About £28,000.
Would the Minister not consider that money might have been spent better on a sport with a major participation element on the part of the general public? So far as I know, as yet, the tobacco firms have not managed to persuade any individuals to name themselves after a brand of cigarettes.
This is a question on which I do not think the Deputy's opinion is any better or any worse than that of the Health Education Bureau. The Health Education Bureau sponsor Rás Tailteann——
A good idea.
——which is a sporting event involving a great deal of participation but which, unfortunately, does not attract the same amount of publicity and focussing of public attention as horse showjumping does. These are simple facts of life. There is no particular ideological content in the decision one way or the other.
I enjoy showjumping. Was the Minister not embarrassed at having to present the Health Education Bureau prize to the rider of a horse named after a tobacco company?
I do not think that did any harm.
It provided advertising for them.