Seanad Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 5 Aug 1959

Vol. 51 No. 10

Adjournment Debate. - Ireland's Role in United Nations and Foreign Policy: Circulation of Pamphlet.

Professor Quinlan

I wish to raise the issue of this pamphlet—which contains speeches delivered by the Taoiseach, Deputy Lemass, and the Minister for External Affairs, Deputy Frank Aiken—on "Ireland's Role in the United Nations and Ireland's Foreign Policy", Dáil Éireann, 7th July, 1959. Within the last few days this document has been circulated at, as far as I know, public expense to a number of individuals. At present I have verified that several priests and, at least, one bishop have been presented with a copy of this document at State expense. The envelopes were franked by the Department of External Affairs. So now we reach the stage in democracy where a document that is purely a Party political document, containing as it does only one side of the case and making very vicious attacks on opponents, is paid for by the taxpayers' money so that one Party may gain a political advantage.

This is a most serious occurrence and one which sets a very dangerous precedent and, coming as it does upon the many regrettable and anti-democratic incidences that have happened here in recent months, we should be warned. It shows that one of the fundamentals of democratic Government, that of free speech and the right to have your case expressed, is being violated in this political issue of a document——

An Cathaoirleach

The Senator may not enter into the merits of the speeches. The issue here is the circulation of the document at State expense.

Prof. Quinlan

I agree, Sir, and I admit that I am very hamstrung by the narrow terms of the motion. I should have preferred to raise the issue as a substantive motion but that could not be done in the present session. Surely, however, in objecting to the circulation of this pamphlet, in all courtesy to the public we must explain in some reasonable way what it contains? It can be stated that the pamphlet contained just one side of a very controversial issue, that is, our activities in the United Nations in recent years. It makes no reference whatever to the fact that there is an Opposition view. It makes no reference to the many people, both clerical and otherwise, who have violently disagreed with what has been done. I take it, Sir, that that is not democracy.

Again, the many significant interruptions were omitted. I submit that to put the name "Dáil Éireann" on the cover means that this purports to be a verbatim account of what happened in Dáil Éireann or at least of what happened while the Taoiseach and the Minister for External Affairs were speaking. That is not the case, and some of these omissions of interruptions have been most glaring. For instance, if I just quote one to prove my case, where the Minister for External Affairs made great capital out of the suppression of news, of a letter not accepted by some Brooklyn Tablet or other, there was an interjection about the Irish Press. We know how that paper deals with news which it does not like.

Again, we have the fact that in this document there is an attack made—a misquotation which was tantamount to an attack—on the late Mr. Foster Dulles, one of the greatest statesmen the world has seen.

An Cathaoirleach

The Senator is going outside the scope of the motion.

Professor Quinlan

I want to show the scope of the pamphlet.

An Cathaoirleach

The pamphlet is not under discussion.

Professor Quinlan

No, Sir, but if it were felt by the Government that certain of these speeches should be taken to the public, surely the vehicle was available through the Dáil Reports, which are available and which are printed at 6d. each? These contain a verbatim account and, if there was a necessity to circulate this information, they could no doubt give the case.

I admit, Sir, that when our Ministers speak abroad, as in the United Nations, it is quite right and proper that their speeches be circulated at public expense, as has been done. But the reporting of an internal speech is in a far different category and especially when the method of reporting what happens in the Dáil is standard. The Dáil debates are there.

There is just one fly in the ointment, or one difficulty. You may say the other side can be read in the Dáil Reports. But then, due to the limited circulation of Dáil Reports, only a very limited number of copies are available. In fact, at present for public sale there are not more than 30 in the city of Dublin today. One may very well say that this gives one side of the case and the other is not available to the public, even to buy, despite the fact that they are supposed to be available in printed versions of the Dáil Report.

Again I must protest at this general misuse of Government funds and I must protest more especially when the political manoeuvre in which it is used is evident. That manoeuvre is simply to split the Irish clergy on the China issue.

An Cathaoirleach

The Senator is now going into the merits of the speeches.

Mr. Carter

Biblical unction.

Professor Quinlan

There is one question one might ask. Was it necessary to do this at this juncture? I can see no reason, except that it is obvious that the Government have decided to vote on the China issue in September and have decided to vote for the admission of Red China.

An Cathaoirleach

The Senator again is going outside the scope of the motion.

Professor Quinlan

The scope of the motion itself is just simply that this has been done, and I am trying to advance reasons as to why it should not be done. In conclusion, I must protest again, as an Independent in this House, as strongly as I can, as one of the representatives of the National University here, regarding this anti-democratic departure. I must protest because in future it will be open to any Minister simply to publish his speech at State expense, send it to whomsoever he wishes, slate his opponents and gain a very marked political advantage from it. To prevent anything like this happening and to get the full facts of the case across to those who have got this document, I appeal to all Senators to share my indignation at this outrageous misuse of public funds and to join with me in launching a national committee to present the real facts of the China affair to our people.

An Cathaoirleach

Senator Ó Maoláin, to conclude.

Tomás Ó Maoláin

The view of the Government regarding the practice which has recently developed in the Seanad, of moving motions of this character on the adjournment, is that it is an attempt to devise a new procedure by which Ministers will be made accountable to the Seanad for their administration. The constitutional position is that Ministers are responsible to the Dáil only—members of the Dáil, of course, being elected directly by the people. Ministers are not responsible to the Seanad. If the Seanad persists in trying to make Ministers accountable to this House——

An Cathaoirleach

That hardly arises on this motion.

Tomás Ó Maoláin

It raises a constitutional question of some importance.

Professor Hayes

That is not axiomatic, of course. The raising of questions on the adjournment does not mean that Ministers may be removed by the Seanad. Everyone knows that cannot be done.

Tomás Ó Maoláin

I want to mention the tendency which has developed, as is exemplified in this motion.

An Cathaoirleach

The tendency can be dealt with on another occasion.

Tomás Ó Maoláin

I want to point out why the Minister is not here to deal with this matter. If you will permit, I will just conclude my reference to that matter. The Government hope that this position will not be allowed to develop without a full appreciation by the Seanad of the significance of the course; and it might be a good idea either to set up a committee or to ask the Committee of Procedure and Privileges to look into the matter.

The speeches referred to by Senator Quinlan were not, as he insinuates, issued with any idea of securing Party advantage or to secure votes. They were circulated because of the special circumstances arising out of the widespread misunderstandings of Ireland's attitude towards certain vital international questions at the United Nations Assembly and because it was felt that only the widespread circulation of the Dáil statements by the Taoiseach and the Minister for External Affairs could remove those misunderstandings by giving the facts about our foreign policy.

The cheapest and the quickest way of reprinting the statements was obviously to avail of the standing type used for the Official Report——

Professor Hayes

And to edit it.

Tomás Ó Maoláin

——of which, incidentally, no copies were obtainable, because of public demand and in spite of a reprint.

The Government, when elected, are more than a mere political Party. They carry the heavy responsibility of a Government in a very dangerous world. They have not only the right but the duty effectively to defend foreign policy supported by the majority in the national Parliament. The Government's foreign policy and their stand in the United Nations was clearly outlined by the Taoiseach and by the Minister for External Affairs in the debate on the Estimates for the United Nations. The Dáil agreed unanimously to the United Nations Vote.

It is not, as Senator Quinlan seems to suggest, a unique thing for a Government to circulate free copies of statements of Government policy on important questions of foreign affairs. The cost of the free copies of this booklet sent to influential Irish citizens was about £11. The Dáil Report, which Senator Quinlan suggests should have been circulated, would have cost three times as much.

Professor Quinlan

That would give both sides of the story.

Tomás Ó Maoláin

It is available to the general public at the modest price of 3d. per copy, and is well worth it, and, for Senator Quinlan's information, over 3,000 copies have already been sold by newsagents and booksellers. Senator Quinlan was a firm believer in the value of informing citizens and in the case of the recent referendum he wanted thousands of copies of the Dáil and Seanad Debates reprinted and given free to post offices and libraries, etc.

Professor Quinlan

Both sides of the story.

Tomás Ó Maoláin

Why he changes his attitude in regard to informing the citizens of the facts of Ireland's foreign policy is a mystery to me.

Professor Quinlan

One side only.

Tomás Ó Maoláin

The Senator sets a very bad example in not being able to sit here and listen to my reply whereas I listened to him without interruption. Senator Quinlan knows very well why it was important that the facts of Ireland's foreign policy, as enunciated by the Government, should receive the greatest possible circulation and the fact that he mentioned the Brooklyn Tablet leads me to believe that it would be advisable to read the letter which the Brooklyn Tablet——

An Cathaoirleach

That matter does not arise.

Tomás Ó Maoláin

I bow to your ruling.

Professor Hayes

I do not think even Lincoln would have advocated that.

Tomás Ó Maoláin

Senator Quinlan spoke of vicious attacks on opponents. I would recommend the Senator to read carefully the Minister's reply, in the booklet to which he refers, and he will see therein quoted the vicious and slanderous attacks which were made—in the foreign Press particularly—on Ireland because of her stand on matters of international concern at the moment. The more widespread the facts of the position can be made, the better informed will be the people of our country on matters which directly affect them. The last person in the world I would expect to object to the widespread dissemination of information is Senator Quinlan.

Professor Hayes

Are we to understand that it is now a matter of Government policy that Governmental speeches may be taken out of the Dáil Debates, printed at Government expense, circulated by the appropriate Department and paid for by the taxpayers, with no mention of what anybody but Government speakers say? That is cracked.

The Seanad adjourned at 6.35 p.m. until 5 p.m. on Thursday, 6th August, 1959.