Bertie Ahern
Question:4 Mr. B. Ahern asked the Taoiseach the role and functions of the Government Press Secretary. [6386/96]
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Role of Government Press Secretary.
As I stated in the House in response to a similar question on 1 February last year, the role of the Government Press Secretary is to act as the spokesperson for the Government. Just as in the case of previous coalition Governments, he works with his other two colleagues as a team in providing joint briefings for the national and international media. The Government Press Secretary manages the press secretariat office which, in co-operation with GIS, provides a range of information services including speeches, press releases, Government statements, interviews and press conferences. He also provides the Taoiseach and Ministers with advice on media issues.
Is the Taoiseach aware of a report that the Government Press Secretary extended an invitation to a dinner with the Czech Prime Minister to a senior journalist and that following an article which mildly criticised the Taoiseach the Government Press Secretary cancelled the invitation? Does the Taoiseach agree the truth of the report should be investigated and, if it is true, that the Government Press Secretary should be reprimanded? This is reminiscent of the worst habits of the Nixon White House and is certainly against the spirit of openness, transparency and accountability.
My information is that the story is not in accordance with the facts. I realise the Deputy reads Phoenix magazine and derives his questions from it.
I do not.
My understanding is that the allegation the Deputy has raised — which is not indicated in the question tabled — is not in accordance with the facts. If the Deputy wishes to table a question about the matter it will be replied to in full.
I will not have to put a question if the Taoiseach can tell us he has investigated the matter following his reading of Phoenix. I heard of the matter in the House. Has the Taoiseach interrogated his press secretary and found no truth in the report?
It is a well known convention of the House that if charges are to be made against a person, especially someone outside the House, it should be done in a formal manner and not by way of innuendo across the House.
My understanding is that the matter as presented by Deputy Ahern is not in accordance with the facts. If he wishes to put a question to obtain the facts on this matter I will be happy to reply. I do not initiate investigations in my Department on the basis of what I read in Phoenix.
Is one of the instructions to the Government Press Secretary to tape record the Taoiseach's doorstep interviews to the media?
Yes. It is important there should be an independent record of any interviews I give because when I give interviews I speak as Taoiseach. For that reason the Government Press Secretary accompanies me on any occasion where it is likely I will give an interview and he endeavours to record the interviews for the reason I have given.
Is the Taoiseach aware that is a change in practice?
I do not care if it is a change in practice. It is a good practice. It is appropriate there should be a record and if my predecessors were sufficiently incautious not to record their words adequately that is a matter for them.
Does the Taoiseach not trust them?
Yesterday our party leader asked the Taoiseach about a speech he made at a function in New York and the Taoiseach said he spoke on the basis of notes and did not have the complete detail of what he said. From now on when we ask a question about what the Taoiseach said at a perticular function, will he be able to give us a report as prepared by the Government Press Secretary?
Will the Taoiseach assure the House that the role he has outlined for the Government Press Secretary is as a spokesperson or mouthpiece for the Government and that the present incumbent does not have a policy function or grander role, despite rumours to the contrary? He should really be dissuaded from this image of himself of the great policy-maker on behalf of the Government. Would the Taoiseach elaborate to the House on that issue?
Compared with either of his two immediate predecessors, both of whom were appointed by the Deputy's party, the Press Secretary of this Government is far more self-effacing, although I have no doubt the former were people of great quality, attended to their duties assiduously and worked very long hours on behalf of my predecessors.
He just does not talk to anyone. That is a different way of being self-effacing.
As far as the present Press Secretary to the Government, Mr. Shane Kenny, is concerned, that is a point on which Members might usefully reflect. It is very important to understand — in the preparation of any Government policy position — that frequently what determines its success is how it is capable of being presented because public support for any initiative is important.
Not whether it is right or wrong.
Does the Taoiseach take advice from his Press Secretary?
Yes, I do take advice from my Press Secretary on matters of policy. It is reasonable that I should do so, just as I take advice on matters of policy from others. In Government it is best to work as a team, drawing on all the strengths available, and not take the approach that each member has a compartmentalised function entirely separate from those of other members of the Cabinet. I am very happy with the standard and quality of advice given and work done for me by Mr. Shane Kenny, the Government Press Secretary, and also by Mr. John Foley and Mr. Tony Heffernan who also work for the Government.
May I revert to the point made by Deputy Ray Burke on speeches the Taoiseach made aside from his script, particularly some of his American ones? Fianna Fáil, on being asked to comment recently in America on many of his remarks not included in his script, followed the age old tradition of this House of not criticising the Taoiseach outside the country. It would be very helpful if, in endeavouring to comment, we could know what he actually said. Since the Taoiseach has a record, perhaps he could forward it to us.
In making public speeches it is very important to be able to speak directly to one's audience. It is not a particularly effective way of communicating to have one's head buried in a script reading with one's eyes continuously on the page. It is my view that speaking ex tempore is the best way of communicating not just the meaning of the words one uses but also the feeling that goes into them.
Particularly when dealing with the peace process, with opposition to violence, it is very important to convey directly to people — without having to read from a script — the strong sense of revulsion felt by the overwhelming majority of people in this country at the use of violence. This was the constant theme of all four of my speeches in the United States. I will endeavour to obtain transcripts of those speeches, which I do not have at present, because I know the Deputy has a constructive interest in these matters. I will endeavour to furnish them to him. In fact I have been attempting to do so. I can confirm that all of my speeches were based on careful thinking and on scripts I had prepared, which I use as the base document for what I say. When I speak, I speak straight to my audience, not through a piece of paper.
A record of even the main points would be helpful.
I wanted to ask——
I cannot allow Members to dwell unduly long on this question. There are many others tabled to the Taoiseach. I am calling Deputy Harney and then a final supplementary from Deputy Ray Burke.
I will do my best to get that for the Deputy but sometimes there is a difficulty in actually making a tape recording of speeches, particularly if the Government Press Secretary is at the back of the hall. He may be unable to do so.
I have great sympathy with what the Taoiseach has said about scripts. I am not a great lover of them myself and I know that those who are not drive the media mad. May I take it from what the Taoiseach has said there is no policy difference between what is contained in his script and what he actually delivers to his audience?
No there is not. When one makes four speeches over a two day period, one subject matter will be treated in greater detail in one and another subject in greater detail in another. One needs to take the composite speeches to get a balanced presentation of what was said. I was asked questions in the House yesterday about my United States trip. I clearly outlined the exact basis of what I had been saying there in a very formal way which I read word for word into the Official Report. That represents the position. I urge anybody who wishes to study the position in a constructive way, rather than simply endeavour to find something about which to complain, to read what I said yesterday because it sets out clearly the Government's view in regard to the talks that will begin on 10 June next.
I must reiterate that it was a very difficult achievement to get agreement to a fixed date for talks to begin on 10 June next. I hope everybody realises what a big achievement it was and what an historic opportunity it presents and will put themselves in a position to avail of it.
I welcome the Taoiseach's offer to make available the Government Press Secretary's record of those speeches. I look forward to receipt of the transcripts at an early date. We want to be able to support the Taoiseach on the peace process, as we have been doing through a general bipartisan approach in the House. We want to be able to examine the emphasis as well as the content of the scripts so that we have the overall content and meaning.
I made four speeches in the United States. I am endeavouring to get a copy of the most substantial speech I made which was to the American-Ireland Fund. I also made speeches at the Speaker's lunch, which was a private function, and two speeches at the White House, one at a Press Conference which was recorded and another at a reception there. I am not certain I have transcripts of all or any of those at present but I will endeavour to get whatever information I can and, on request, will provide it to anybody who is interested. I should like to compliment my Press Secretary who, as I have now learnt from Deputy Bertie Ahern, is the first Press Secretary who ever placed a Taoiseach in a position to respond to such a request. Previous Taoisigh would not have been able to provide the Opposition with such transcripts since they would not have taken the precaution of recording speeches. On receipt of these transcripts perhaps Deputy Ray Burke would express his appreciation to Mr. Shane Kenny for putting me in a position to respond to his request.
Would it be fair to ask the Taoiseach to provide us with a copy of the speech prepared by civil servants as well?
That was well recorded. We heard about that many times.
Was he in Cork when the Taoiseach talked about the peace process?
I hope the Deputy is not trying to draw me into an argument.
Expletive deleted.
Actually that was a political function.