Vol. 323 No. 9
asked the Taoiseach under what authority the services of the Government Information Services are being used to distribute the statements of the Fianna Fáil candidate and Fianna Fáil county councillors in the Donegal by-election; and the action he proposes to take.
2.
asked the Taoiseach if his attention has been drawn to a newspaper report (details supplied) that the Government Information Services were used for the purpose of issuing statements on behalf of the Fianna Fáil candidate in the Donegal by-election and on behalf of the Donegal county councillors; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
: With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 and 2 together.
In reply to a request which had been conveyed on behalf of a Donegal newspaper, the statements referred to were issued by the Government Information Services.
This was done inadvertently and steps have been taken to ensure that the error does not recur.
: The Taoiseach has stated that this was done inadvertently. Would he give us a guarantee that it will not happen in the future?
: I shall endeavour to ensure that it does not happen in the future, but the Deputy knows from his own experience that things like this can happen from time to time, even in the best run office.
: It is certainly evident that similar facilities were not available to Deputy Síle de Valera last weekend.
: Questions, Deputy.
: I cannot accept the Taoiseach's statement as being reasonable. The practice in the information services office has been quite succinctly laid down over a number of years.
: Question, Deputy, please.
: There should be no possibility of abuse of the service by the Government, as has happened in this case. There has obviously been abuse——
: Deputy, we must have a question.
: If the Taoiseach was aware that the service was being abused, could he tell us when he was aware of the abuse and when he gave directives that the abuse should cease?
: I only became aware of the matter after the event. I want to reassure the House that it was an inadvertent happening, and I may say that it is not the first time that this happened. However, we shall endeavour to ensure that it will not happen again. It is not the first time it has happened with previous Governments either.
: Is it a fact that a telex was sent conveying a speech by the Fianna Fáil candidate for the by-election in Donegal from the Government Information Services signed by the head of that service?
: No. The matter arose because a newspaper in Donegal, as a matter of urgency, sought one or two scripts. These were, as I say, inadvertently sent by the Government Information Services by telex to the newspaper. The Government Information Services were over-anxious to facilitate the newspaper in question rather than anything else.
: They were facilitating Fianna Fáil.
: In the interests of the general public.
: I do not want to misread anything into this. Is the Taioseach stating that a telex was sent to a newspaper office——
: Yes.
: ——which conveyed a speech by the Fianna Fáil candidate for the by-election?
: I do not think it was a candidate.
: Donegal County Council.
: It was, yes, a Fianna Fáil speech. Would the Taoiseach not agree that it is extraordinary that a man should be appointed as head of the Government Information Services who was apparently unaware of one of the most basic principles that apply to that position?
: I think it is extraordinary the people who are appointed as head of the Government Information Services from time to time. The Coalition Government, you know, appointed somebody who subsequently became a Fine Gael candidate and then reappointed him after the election.
: Did he make any mistakes?
: That is irrelevant.
: Deputies, a question, please.
: He was carrying out his duties. That is the relevant point.
: He is doing a good job for the Opposition today.
: That is not the question that I asked the Taoiseach.
: That is the answer that I have given the Deputy.
: Is the Taoiseach telling the House and the country that because in his view something less than proper took place previously, he now considers it valid that he would appoint his own political appointee to that position who is obviously——
: Deputy, a question, please.
: ——abusing his position.
: The Deputy is endeavouring to make a mountain out of a molehill. I do not think it is going to wash.
: It certainly is a mountain.
: That is what the Taoiseach is trying to do.
: I have admitted to the House——
: May I speak?
: Deputies, please.
: I have admitted to the House that a mistake was made. We regret that this mistake was made. I have assured the House that I shall take whatever measures I can to ensure that this type of mistake does not recur. I can do no more.
: A final question, Deputy Deasy.
: Is it a fact that staff from the Taoiseach's Government Information Services and/or the Taoiseach's office are actively working in the Donegal by-election?
: Ní thuigim an cheist.
: Are paid civil servants working in the Donegal by-election?
: Not to my knowledge.
: I have seen some individuals working there.
: Question No. 3. That was the final question.
: When the Taoiseach says not to his knowledge, is he saying it is possible that paid civil servants are working for political parties? That is a very serious situation indeed.
: I have allowed a considerable number of supplementary questions.
: It ill behoves any member of the Coalition Government to talk about abuse of the civil service.
: Hear, hear.
: When one combs the corridors, when the Coalition Government appointed defeated Fine Gael TDs——
: That will not wash.
: ——to some of the highest posts in the land.
: And so did Fianna Fáil. Many of our judges were Fianna Fáil candidates.
: Deputy, please.
