asked the Minister for Education if, further to a question of 12th December, 1974, concerning the alleged dissemination of IRA propaganda in primary and secondary schools, he will indicate the steps he has taken to deal with the allegations.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Alleged Propaganda Dissemination.
4.
Mr. R. Burke
I do not wish to add to the reply given in answer to Question No. 38 of 12th December, 1974.
May I say thank God we have got away from the exhibition we made of ourselves in the last two days? Is the Minister aware of the concern and annoyance that is being provoked in the teaching profession by the suggestion that propaganda of any kind has been disseminated in the schools on this issue?
Mr. R. Burke
I have read in the newspaper reports of statements by certain teachers. I may not have read all the reports but, in so far as I have read some, I am aware of the point he made.
May I ask the Minister——
I rarely appear in this House because of my European duties. The original reply, to which the Minister refuses to add any additional information, said that "the Minister for Justice did not propose to elaborate further on the steps that have been taken". Does this mean we are going to have electronic bugs planted on the windows of our classrooms? Does it mean our pupils will have to testify against us in the manner they do in Russia? Some people think I am a communist. Are my pupils going to go to the Minister for Education and the Minister for Justice and say: "Thornley is——
Will the Deputy please be brief? I am calling on Deputy Power.
The Deputy is talking about 1984.
Mr. R. Burke
If I might reply to Deputy Thornley? He is entitled to a reply.
Far be it from me to impinge on matters that Deputy Thornley considers are under his aegis, but I should like to ask the Minister for Education if he considers that a serious matter like this should be backed up by evidence, if there is evidence to support it, and if there is not that it should be withdrawn? The allegation is too serious to be left lie. Would it stem from the views he possibly shares with his colleague in the Department of Posts and Telegraphs, that any factual account of Irish history could be construed as a dissemination of propaganda?
Mr. R. Burke
What the Minister did was to bring it to the notice of school managers, parents and members of the public who would be aware of the position and he does not wish to elaborate any further.
Question No. 5.
Would the Minister agree that to make an allegation to frighten the parents of children in these schools and to leave it at that is irresponsible?