asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he will indicate, from the recordings made by the Government Information Service, the information given by RTE in its television news broadcasts concerning increases in the price of bread, butter, sugar and many other commodities which were sanctioned by the Minister for Industry and Commerce on the 11th January, 1974.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - RTE Bulletins on Prices.
129.
As I indicated to Deputy Colley already, at column 1347 of the Official Report of 21st February, 1974, the Government Information Services record certain programmes including news bulletins on a daily basis. These records are kept for a very short time only. The tapes are then wiped for use again. The tapes of 11th January were, under this system, wiped shortly afterwards. The information which the Deputy seeks is not, therefore, available.
I am sure the Minister will agree that it was an unfortunate coincidence that these tapes were wiped thereby depriving him of the official record of what happened. Is the Minister aware that on the date in question RTE television news at 10 o'clock, while referring to many items, did not refer in any way to the many increases in the price of bread, butter, sugar and various other commodities sanctioned by the Minister for Industry and Commerce? If he is so aware, does he view that kind of evaluation of news as an example of the kind of open Government about which he and his colleagues have been talking?
As I indicated to the Deputy, for reasons which are quite clear the Government Information Services have no record of the broadcast in question. This is a practice which has been standard for quite a long time. It is not a new practice at all. I have no personal recollection of the broadcast in question and I cannot therefore comment on it from memory. I have no powers in relation to the day to day programming of RTE. I took no decision regarding this matter. I was not consulted about it.
On what date was the relevant tape wiped?
I do not know.
Could the Minister find out?
Certainly.
Will the Minister inform the House when he finds out?
Certainly.
That is a change.
Is it true that the Minister is changing the name of the station?
The O'Brien promotion show.