asked the Taoiseach (a) if he will state the practice observed by the Government Information Service in regard to issuing more than one Minister's script in respect of the same occasion; and (b) whether the practice has any regard to the question whether a Minister has any official responsibility, either original or delegated, for the area of activity within which such occasion belongs.
Ceisteanna—Questions Oral Answers. - Issue of Ministers' Scripts.
1.
The Government Information Service are authorised to issue official scripts when requested to do so by Ministers or Ministers of State, in respect of official occasions.
Would the Taoiseach describe the nature of the official duty which led, on the occasion I have in mind, to Deputy MacSharry, Minister of State at the Department of the Public Service, being present and issuing a script at the official opening of an industrial estate in Sligo, which is his constituency, on 5 October 1978? What was his official duty there?
He is Minister of State for the Department of the Public Service and that Department have responsibility in the area of semi-State bodies.
Would the Taoiseach not agree that, when the Minister of State at the Department of Industry, Commerce and Energy is also appearing at the same function and has also wasted a day of an official's time in writing a speech, that is enough without Deputy MacSharry being present and issuing a script as well? In view of the country's problems, would the Taoiseach not agree that these Ministers have enough to do without tripping over each other, slapping backs, at openings and closings?
Does the Deputy not remember when the entire Coalition Cabinet——
No, I do not remember.
The Deputy does not know what I am asking him.
The Deputy does not suffer from loss of memory.
Does the Deputy not remember when the entire Cabinet appeared at a dinner of the Confederation of Irish Industry and were so recorded pictorially?
The other Cabinet appeared at the Texaco sports awards.
(Interruptions.)
Order.