Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 9 Jun 1992

Vol. 420 No. 9

Written Answers. - Maastricht Referendum Booklets.

Proinsias De Rossa

Question:

178 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the total number of explanatory booklets and leaflets on the Maastricht Referendum which have been distributed on behalf of the Government to date; if he will outline the mechanisms which have been used for distribution of the booklets and leaflets in view of the current postal dispute; the total cost of the distribution; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Andrews)

1,200,000 copies of the English-language version of the 16-page booklet A Short Guide to the Maastricht Treaty have been printed. A copy has been sent, or is in the process of being sent, to each of the 1,142,030 postal addresses in the State.

Twenty-thousand copies of the Irish-language version have been printed. A copy of this version is being sent to each of the 12,705 postal addresses in Gaeltacht areas, as identified by An Post.

The remaining copies of both versions of the booklet have been made available through various outlets including the Government Publications Sales Office, the Government Information Service, the Department of Foreign Affairs and the offices of the political parties.

The guide is being delivered by An Post both through its regular service and through its SDS nationwide distribution system.

During the postal dispute, delivery to regional offices of An Post outside Dublin was arranged through the SDS service of An Post and copies of the guide were distributed by local postmen not affected by the dispute. Now that the dispute has ended, delivery in the Dublin area will be made over the next few days.

The total cost of this distribution amounts to £50,879.40.

One hundred and fifty thousand copies each of four further leaflets on the Maastricht Referendum have been prepared and will be made available by the Government Information Service to interest groups, political parties and others interested in the Government's case for ratification of the Treaty who wish to have them for distribution.