asked the Minister for External Affairs whether the Irish News Agency has departed from the definite undertaking given by him in the Dáil that it would not complete for spot news with existing news-gathering organisations and, in particular, with Irish newspapers and, further, whether he is aware that the Irish News Agency is acting in a manner prejudicial to the interests and livelihood of Irish journalists by competing with them in supplying news-items to British and foreign newspapers.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Irish News Agency.
Mr. Byrne
Mr. Byrne
asked the Minister for External Affairs whether he is aware that a representative of the Irish News Agency reported a recent habeas corpus case in the Dublin High Court, telephoning his copy to the agency's Dublin office from which office the copy was immediately sent by direct teleprinter line to London, where the London newspaper offices were bombarded with this particular copy to the detriment of Irish journalists who are accredited Dublin correspondents of London newspapers; and, if so, what action he proposes to take in the matter.
Mr. Byrne
asked the Minister for External Affairs whether he is aware that the Irish News Agency has contacted English newspapers with the object of supplying them with news and features to the detriment of Irish journalists who are accredited Dublin correspondents of those journals; and, further, whether the taxpayers' money is to be devoted to injuring the livelihood of Irish journalists by permitting the Irish News Agency, which is supported by public funds, to compete with them at reduced rates in the world news markets.
Mr. Byrne
asked the Minister for External Affairs whether he is aware that the Dublin daily newspapers have frequently been approached by the Irish News Agency for permission to cover important events such as the recent inter-Parliamentary Union Conference held in Dublin and whether this indicates a departure from the declared object of the agency, which was stated to be established for national propaganda purposes.
As these questions are closely linked together, I think it will be best if I answer them comprehensively.
The Irish News Agency is now furnishing almost all newspapers in Britain, and some in other countries, with a news service from Ireland. In brief the Irish News Agency is supplying an outward service comparable to that supplied by the several non-Irish news agencies which operate in Ireland. This service includes the reporting of court cases where such reports are requested by a client newspaper, as in the case mentioned in Deputy Byrne's second question. The service is not offered to any newspaper at reduced rates. The agency is not supplying a service of Irish news to the Irish newspapers and it is not correct that the Dublin daily newspapers have frequently been approached by the agency for permission to cover important events for them. Only one such approach was made and that was in the first month of the agency's operation. The suggestion that the sending out of news from Ireland to countries abroad is detrimental to Irish journalists is capable of being applied to any of the non-Irish news agencies which operate in Ireland; the fact that an Irish News Agency provides such a service cannot be open to objection. I do not agree that the agency's activities are detrimental to the interests of Irish journalists and I do not think that this view is taken by the competent journalistic organisations. The operations of the agency have, in fact, benefited quite a large number of journalists in Ireland, apart altogether from those who are employed on its staff.
It is true that when I introduced the Bill setting up this agency I did not think it would be possible for it to compete effectively with other news agencies in the field of news. When, however, the board of the news agency went into this whole question very thoroughly, in the light of the advice received from the skilled agency personnel whom it had appointed, it decided that the agency not only could compete in the field of news with other news agencies, but must do so if it was to achieve the overriding purpose for which it was set up, i.e., to ensure an outward flow of objective news on Ireland. Since then, and especially since the opening last month of the agency's first full-scale outward service into Britain, the agency has been competing, and successfully competing, in this field. Agency material is now appearing regularly in quite a large number of foreign newspapers, and is already beginning to bring about a more balanced presentation of Irish news.
I regret that the restricted framework of an answer to a parliamentary question scarcely allows discussion of the complex factors involved in a question of this kind. I shall be glad, however, at any time to consult with Deputy Byrne or any other Deputy, on matters arising out of the agency's activities.
Is the Minister aware that reports covering the Baltinglass post office were furnished to British papers and to American papers also, and that these reports were grossly untrue, misleading and calculated to discredit this country?
I am not so aware. I understood that the Deputy had actually inspected the reports and had expressed a complete satisfaction at the nature of the reports at the time.
I have inspected the reports but I have not expressed satisfaction.
If the Deputy is really disturbed or worried about the matter, I am quite prepared to discuss the matter with him at any time, going through the reports. It is the desire of the Government to ensure that the news agency reports should be absolutely objective.
Submit them to General Dennis.