asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he will state with reference to the letting agreement with Radio-Telefís Éireann affecting the rooms over the portico of the General Post Office, on whom the liability rests to maintain and repair the structure; whether the landlord has a right to inspect the property; when the structure was last inspected; whether there is a provision that the accomodation or any part thereof must be used by Radio-Telefís Éireann, or that it may be reoccupied by the State if not used by Radio-Telefís Éireann; and, if so, whether the State has exercised or will exercise such right of reoccupation.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - GPO Accommodation.
78.
The room over the portico of the General Post Office to which the Deputy refers is part of the property which Radio-Telefís Éireann hold under licence from the Minister for Finance.
The Minister is liable for the internal and external maintenance of the property and he has the right of inspection. The room over the portico was last inspected on 14th March, 1966.
The licence provides that the property as a whole be used by Radio-Telefís Éireann in connection with its functions under the Broadcasting Authority Act, 1960.
The Minister has the right to revoke and determine the licence by notice in writing at any time but this right has not been exercised to date, nor is it expected that it will be necessary to do so during the currency of the licence.
Will the Minister say whether there is an obligation on Radio-Telefís Éireann to use these rooms or to forfeit them in the event of non-user?
I would not say that there is any obligation. They have rented a certain number of rooms, a certain square footage of area, and it is a matter for them whether they use it or not.
If it is a matter for them, will the Minister say why the Office of Public Works required them to vacate the premises? Is it not because the portico was considered to be dangerous?
No, I do not think there is any question of their being required to vacate the rooms. I do not know what the Deputy is driving at. Inspections were carried out in the normal way after the explosions which took place in close proximity——
The second explosion.
Both explosions —and the premises were certified to be safe. It is quite a normal thing for the Office of Public Works in the course of their inspections of public buildings to object to unusual weights being placed on floors if they consider that heavy stores are not likely to be borne or are not capable of being borne by a particular floor. There is nothing abnormal about this at all, absolutely nothing.
Are we to understand from the Minister that, in fact, these rooms have been evacuated, perhaps for the reason he says, because of the weights on the floors having to be removed, and that this was done last autumn? Is that the position?
There was some advice tendered to the Authority some time ago — I would not say last autumn or when — with regard to abnormally heavy stores. This is a room at the very top of the building which is rather inaccessible. It is being partially used, I understand, at the moment.
The general sense of what I have conveyed is true, that is, that the portico was considered to be parting company with the rest of the building and that the stores should be removed from it on that account. Is that not the simple fact? Why does the Minister not admit it? There is nothing to be ashamed of.
I would be the very first person to state if that was so. I do not see what purpose the Deputy has in pursuing this. My information from people competent to give me a report is that the Office of Public Works have inspected the room and said that it is safe.
Was the central room not simply a workroom in which there are no heavy stores and that that has been evacuated? The Minister is afraid to admit its condition. Is that not so?
I do not want it to go out, and the Deputy wants to insist on its going out, that there is any reason to hide anything about this. There is not.
Five months ago the room was evacuated and the Minister will not say why.
79.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs the rent at which accommodation in the General Post Office is let to Radio-Telefís Éireann, and the portion thereof attributable to the three rooms over the portico.
The rental of the accommodation in the General Post Office let to Radio-Telefís Éireann is £7,000 per annum, and the rental of the room over the portico is not separately apportioned.
Arising out of the fact that, following advice tendered to them by the Office of Public Works, these rooms were evacuated, will the Minister have arrangements made to reduce the rent because of the fact that these rooms cannot now be used?
There was no advice tendered by the Office of Public Works to vacate the rooms.
The Minister said in reply to the previous question that there was advice tendered.
I said no such thing.
The Minister said that advice was tendered and following the advice being tendered the rooms were vacated.
He did not say that at all.
I did not say any such thing.
The Minister did.