Jim Higgins
Question:6 Mr. J. Higgins asked the Taoiseach the mechanism employed by the Government Information Service for issuing Government statements at weekends.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Issuing of Government Statements.
At weekends, as at all other times, Government statements are issued by or under the authority of the Government Press Secretary.
I put it to the Taoiseach that, apart from the Budget Statement, no major announcement of Government policy is made in the House and it has become the norm to make announcements at weekends. I am talking about Mullaghmore, the tax amnesty and the social welfare amnesty which was announced last Sunday on "News at One".
Will the Deputy put a question to the Taoiseach? The Deputy is embarking on a speech.
Will the Taoiseach tell us the last time a major initiative was announced here? Will he accept that, apart from courtesy, proper procedure dictates that major Government announcements should be made here?
I have already said on a number of occasions in the House that it is up to individual Ministers where they make those statements. The question today asks about the mechanism employed for issuing Government statements at weekends. I have answered that question.
We now move to questions nominated for priority. Twenty minutes only is provided for priority questions in our Standing Orders. Let us try to deal with the five questions within the limits laid down.