With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to answer Questions 23 and 24 together.
The Director of Broadcasting has adequate power to exclude from sponsored programmes any material that is not approved. In the particular case referred to in the former Question I agree that the speech material in the programme could be regarded as having a political import but because of its light, breezy nature that was possibly not realised.
Political matters are of course dealt with in the ordinary speech programmes of Radio Éireann and controlled for objectivity and balance. I feel that such matters should be excluded from sponsored programmes. As it was not thought to be likely that political material would be introduced into sponsored programmes, no hard-and-fast rule has hitherto been laid down to deal with the matter, but in view of this instance the Director of Broadcasting is taking measures to ensure that no political topics are included in such programmes in future.