asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he will state the arguments against independence for Radio Éireann to which he referred when speaking at the Fianna Fáil Ard Fheis on Wednesday, 20th November.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Minister's Statement on Radio Éireann
The arguments to which I referred were those put forward by speakers to a motion concerning Radio Éireann at the Ard Fheis. The consideration of such arguments, pro and con, would be proper for a debate here on a suitable occasion, such as the Estimate for Wireless Broadcasting. I do not think they can be adequately dealt with by parliamentary question.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he will state what he did say at the Fianna Fáil Ard-Fheis about Radio Éireann, and whether he proposes to proceed with the policy of making Radio Éireann autonomous or quasi-autonomous, and, if not, if he will state the Government's policy in regard to the future of Radio Éireann.
With regard to the first part of the Deputy's question, I would refer him to the reply which I am making to question No. 30 on to-day's Order Paper. As to the second and third parts, I would refer him to the replies which I have made to questions Nos. 27 and 28.
Arising out of this informative reply for which I am very grateful to the Minister, would he tell me have the members of the Advisory Council of Radio Éireann tendered their resignations? That is one part of my supplementary. The second part is this: before using the language which he is commonly reputed to have used, and to which the Minister for Lands has attached a special signficance, as reported in the public Press of the country, was there any opportunity given to the members of the Radio Éireann Advisory Council of stating their side of the case to the Minister before he treated them to what they believe to be a public censure?
I do not see how that can be attached to this particular question.
I am attaching it to it and I am asking for an answer. Have the members of the Radio Éireann Advisory Council tendered their resignations as a result of what they believe the Minister said?
It is not on the Order Paper here.
No, but it is on the records of Dáil Éireann now. Will the Minister say: "I am afraid to answer because the Taoiseach would ‘eat' me," or "I do not want to answer", or "I do not know"?
I would suggest that the Deputy put down that question for next week and he will get a reply.
Is not the whole point that the Minister will not be there to answer it?
I will be here and I propose to raise the question on the Adjournment of our proceedings today.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he will state whether he has seen published in an Irish Sunday newspaper what is described as a verbatim report of his speech about Radio Éireann delivered on the 20th November; if he will state how far it is an accurate report; and if he will quote the exact words used by him on that occasion.
A statement concerning Radio Éireann was made by me in reply to certain criticisms by delegates at the recent Fianna Fáil Árd-Fheis. The report of that statement that was published in the news broadcast of Radio Éireann and in the newspapers was not accurate. On my attention being drawn to the matter, I issued a correction, which was published. I do not think I need add to it.
The Minister did not deny the whole of the speech, but only one small paragraph.
In particular, one small paragraph.
I have asked the Minister if he will state whether he has seeu published in an Irish Sunday newspaper what is described as a verbatim report of his speech, if he will state how far it is an inaccurate report and if he will quote the words used by him on that occasion.
I would need to be a Solomon to do that. Neither I nor anybody else could repeat verbatim a statement I made a week before.
Arising further out of that reply, is the Minister not in a position now to inform the House of what his exact words were? Surely a Minister is bound to give that courtesy to the House.
First of all, it is another question. It would be very difficult surely to give verbatim what I said a week ago in reply to four different motions. But I know the things I did not say.
Did the Minister not get ample notice the following morning while the matter was still fresh in his mind that he would be asked what he said, and is it not entirely incorrect for the Minister to try to ride away from the matter on the basis that he is asked a week afterwards? Was he not asked the next morning by the people who were entitled to the courtesy of a reply?
The correction was issued the next day.
It was only a correction in part.
What was the row at the hotel dinner about?
While I acquit the Minister of any pretensions to being a Solomon, I should like to ask him if, between the date of the newspaper publication of his statement and the issuing of his statement through the Government Information Bureau, any members of the Radio Éireann Advisory Council tendered their resignations?
That is entirely a separate question.
Will the Minister say whether on any occasion he drew the attention of the Radio Éireann Advisory Council to the fact that he was dissatisfied with any aspects of the programmes?
Has the Minister asked either the Taoiseach or Deputy Vivion de Valera for the verbatim report the Irish Press have of what he said on that occasion?
Question No. 31.