asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if his attention has been drawn to the publication Sit Down and be Counted written by Jack Dowling, Lelia Doolan and Bob Quinn with reference to internal trouble and interference in RTE; and if he will hold an inquiry into the matter and make a general statement on it.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Book on RTE.
352.
I am aware that the publication in question came on sale towards the end of last week. I have no comment to make concerning it.
Will the Minister say if he has read the particular publication and if the allegations that it contains are true?
The point is, as I have said in my reply, the book appeared only last week and in reply to the Deputy's question as to whether I have read it, yes, I have read most of it. It contains so many allegations that I could not possibly go into all of them in a short time or, indeed, in a long time for that matter.
May I ask the Minister in a friendly spirit if the allegations are true?
Since the Minister has read the particular publication, would he not consider that setting up a commission of inquiry into the operations of RTE would be in the national interest?
The Minister realises that if the allegations are true he cannot avoid holding a public inquiry?
I do not accept that at all. The point is that an authority was appointed to administer RTE and if there are allegations in this book, it is a matter for the authority in the first instance to comment on them if they see fit. I do not accept that at this stage it is something that demands an inquiry of any nature. In reply to Deputy Desmond's supplementary, I will say that the question of reviewing legislation in connection with RTE as a whole is something that is now due to arise and everything will be taken into consideration in connection with that proposed fresh legislation.
Question No. 353.
In view of the fact that the Minister appoints the authority and is the overall supervisor of the policy of the authority and because there has been a deafening silence from the authority with regard to this publication, which has been publicised in the national newspapers, even in the Irish Press, would it not be a useful act of political hygiene to have a committee of inquiry or general commission to examine the various allegations?
I had an unusual opportunity of reading it.
The Minister was in hospital and we are all glad to see that he is well again.
Hear, hear.
But for that I would not have had the chance of having been able to digest it. I will not say that it brought about my speedy recovery. However, I have not finished it.
May we repeat the question when the Minister has finished reading the book? It is a very serious matter.
Just one further supplementary——
I am calling Question No. 353.
The Minister cannot get away as easily as that. Can he give us any definite indication——
May I say from the outside that my immediate reaction is that I do not see why subordinates in any institution should assume to themselves the right to dictate policy and this is what the whole thing is about. Apart from prejudgment, one has only to read the book to see that there was a row because the station was not being run in the way three people wished it to be run.
There was interference.
May we repeat the question in a fortnight's time when the Minister has completed his research?
We might then put down the question more specifically.
That is a good suggestion.