asked the Minister for Transport and Power if he will state, in relation to an incident at Ringsend power station, Dublin, on 11th May last, whether any official of his Department was directly or indirectly involved; and, if so, if he will make a statement in the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dublin Power Station Incident.
25.
No official of my Department was involved.
Can the Minister explain why no official of the Department of Transport and Power was involved in this action, seeing that this is a power station? Would the Minister agree that there was interference with the freedom, not alone of the individual but of the Press?
That is a separate question.
Does the Minister not regard this as being in direct contradiction of a solemn promise and assurance which he gave me here in this House in reply to a question which I put down some time ago, when he told me that duly authorised members of the Press would be allowed free access to take photographs and to investigate matters in dispute?
Staff of the ESB are involved in this case. I am told that there was no question of any interference with the right to photograph. There was a question of identity and for that reason the gate-keeper telephoned the station superintendent who immediately granted the facility to the photographer concerned.
(Cavan): Is it not a fact that the Press photographer had been arrested and was in custody?
That is an entirely separate matter. The question relates to the behaviour of the ESB on that occasion and I am giving the precise facts.
(Cavan): Would the Minister consider issuing a direction to the staff of the ESB that in future they are to accord facilities to accredited members of the Press, whether reporters or photographers, to go about their lawful business?
That is always done.
(Cavan): It has not been done here.
It was a question of identity.
Did the Minister not give an assurance to me ten or 12 months ago in regard to Dublin Airport——
The Deputy has that assurance again now.
——that duly accredited members of the Press would be accorded full facilities?
The assurance was always there, is there, and always will be there.
It has been violated.
No.
Due to the unsatisfactory nature of the Minister's reply I propose to raise this matter on the Adjournment.
Good.
The Chair will communicate with the Deputy.
(Cavan): Is the Minister saying that this Press Photographer was asked for his identity card, or asked to identify himself and refused to do so because, as I understand it, that is not the case? Will the Minister not agree that he was not asked any question and that he was simply arrested?
The station superintendent was phoned by Mr. Murphy at the gate to say that he, Mr. Murphy——
(Cavan): Who is Mr. Murphy?
Mr. Murphy was the photographer. He phoned and identified himself as Mr. Murphy, a Press photographer, and straight away the station superintendent said: "Proceed and photograph." The ESB have no other function in the matter beyond that.
Who issued the order to have him arrested?
The ESB have no function in the matter of arrests.
Who arrested him?
That is a separate question. Question No. 26.