asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if arrangements have already been made to have a special series of postage stamps issued to commemorate the 150th anniversary, in 1953, of the trial and execution of Robert Emmet; and, if not, if he will have such arrangements made now.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Commemoration Stamps.
The question of issuing a special stamp to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the death of Robert Emmet is already under consideration.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if it is his intention to issue an Irish stamp to commemorate the centenary of Thomas Moore; and, if so, if he will state (a) the cause of the delay in the issue of this stamp, (b) if it has been designed in the Republic, (c) if Irish manufactured paper and Irish made ink have been used in its production, and (d) when it will be on sale.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he will state the date on which he gave his approval to the design for the Thomas Moore memorial stamp.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 34 and 35 together.
As announced in the public Press and over the radio on the 10th and 11th October, 1952, a special postage stamp to commemorate the centenary of the death of Thomas Moore will be issued this year and will be on sale on the 10th November.
It was hoped to have the stamp in time for Horse Show week but the recent dispute in the printing industry upset that arrangement. The design of the stamp—which I approved on the 16th January, 1952—is not an original one. It is a reproduction of the portrait of Moore by the Irish artist, Sir Archer Shee, which hangs in the National Gallery, Dublin.
For the past two years, efforts to get Irish paper mills to tender for the manufacture of the specialised paper required for the production of stamps have been unsuccessful. The ink used for the Moore stamp was made in London by the printers of the stamp.
Could the Minister say whether the approval of the design was ministerial or governmental?
It was Government approval formally of the design.
Can the Minister explain why he and his colleagues approved of a stamp the superscription of which is in English and which describes this country as "Eire"?
It is in accordance with general custom. If the name of the country and the denomination of the country is in English, the term "Eire" can be used.
Is the Minister not aware that there is a standing instruction by the Department of External Affairs that the description of this country is to be "Ireland" and not "Eire"? Would it not cause confusion and give fuel to British politicians who like so describing us and who, as Deputy Lynch, Parliamentary Secretary to the Government, knows, did attempt so to describe us in spite of our protests recently? You have put your foot in it and you may as well wear sackcloth and ashes.