asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs whether the Television Authority have refused to date to accept advertisements in respect of any commodity for which television space was requested.
59.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Telefís Éireann Advertisements and Programmes.
58.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs whether there are any substances or commodities in respect of which Telefís Éireann will not accept advertisements for transmission.
60.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs the total average time to date in each month since its inauguration which has been devoted by Telefís Éireann to (a) live programmes (b) filmed programmes of home origin (c) filmed programmes of British origin and (d) filmed programmes of American origin.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions 58, 59 and 60 together. These are all matters in which I have no function and the Deputy's questions should, therefore, be addressed to the Authority.
Can the Minister give any guarantee that a reply will be forthcoming from the Television Authority?
Is the Minister seriously suggesting that he is not prepared to give a reply to (a), (b), (c) and (d) of Question No. 60?
The Authority are free to accept or reject advertisements as they see fit. There are many substances and commodities in respect of which I would not accept advertisements.
What about Question No. 60?
The Minister says he has not got the information. Can he tell us now whether or not these questions will be answered if they are addressed to the Television Authority?
If you address the questions to the Authority and the Authority do not reply, I do not see how I can force them to do so.
Would the Minister consider it would be unreasonable for the Authority not to answer them?
I take it for granted that the Authority will reply.
Arising out of Question No. 58, am I not correct in saying that if the Television Authority refuse to accept advertisements, on the grounds that the accommodation had been sought on the radio, it would be an illegal proceeding?
I do not understand the point of the Deputy' question.
If the Television Authority refuse to accept a request for advertising space on the grounds that the same commodity was advertised on the radio, it would be an illegal arrangement, would it not?
I do not know whether or not it would be illegal. I do not know of any such case. Deputy McQuillan asked me about Question No. 60, that is, the total average time per month. The Authority have a free hand in the division of programme time as between live and other programmes.
I appreciate that. If that reply is accepted to Question No. 60 then, in the light of a Question we asked in this House today, Deputies must write to Telefís Éireann as to a breakdown of the programmes. Is the Minister aware that so far as Radio Éireann is concerned questions of a similar nature were always answered in this House in regard to a breakdown of programmes? Surely the Minister is not going to go against that precedent?
The Broadcasting Authority was not set up under statute of the Oireachtas at the time the Deputy is talking about.
Is the Minister not aware that one of his functions is to ensure that there is a certain percentage of Irish cultural and traditional items?
Hear, hear!
(Interruptions.)
B'fhearr dhuit labhairt as Gaeilge.
Bheadh deire leis an Gaeilge dá mbeadh do thoil agat-sa.
Molaim thú.
There is a general direction under Section 17 of the Act to the Authority but it does not oblige them to give any specified time or percentage of time——
Surely "Have Gun— Will Travel" is not cultural?
The Authority should be renamed Frankenstein. We have created it, but we cannot control it.
What information is to be disclosed to the House?
Is the Estimate not before the House?
Is it not a fact that the Minister gave some of this information in his Estimate speech? Is it not a fact that the House has laid down that there should be a certain content in the distribution of programmes, for instance, the amount of advertising as opposed to entertainment? Surely we must have the right to criticise that content from time to time here if we wish to do so? If the content varies, surely we have the right to say that too much time is given to advertising?
I lay down the content of time for advertising in relation to the full extent of the programme but the Authority are free to accept or reject advertisements as they deem fit.
(Interruptions.)
The Minister has conceded the right to the Authority to vary the content.