asked the Minister for Finance if he issued the text of a speech for distribution through the Government Information Services on 14th February, 1976; and whether the speech was made at the time and place mentioned in the hand-out.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Speech Text Issue.
19.
The answer to the first part of the question is yes. The date was as stated in the caption but the place was inadvertently stated incorrectly.
The posts of publicity officer and information officer in my Department are vacant at present and I regret that on this occasion there was a consequential breakdown in the usual arrangements for Press releases.
In relation to the speech that never was, will the Minister indicate where the speech was made? Was it made at Templeogue College, in a private house or in the publichouse there?
I was talking to friends in my constituency——
The Minister has no friends in his constituency any longer.
If the Deputy wishes to have further information about Fine Gael meetings I will be very happy to supply it if and when he is admitted as a member of the Fine Gael Party.
This is a serious reflection on the Government Information Services and on the issue of further Press releases by them. In this instance it was grossly inaccurate——
Has the Deputy a question to put?
Will the Minister state if the speech reflected the views of the Government?
The speech was not on Government Information Services stationery. It was issued to the Press in accordance with long-established practice whereby the media request copies of statements made by politicians at political meetings. It was the unfamiliarity of the officer who handled the script in question——
(Interruptions.)
Order.
——that led to its being issued in the way it was.
The Minister should take the blame.
The speech was a very good one and I would be very happy to furnish Deputy Dowling with a copy of it. It pointed out that during their 35 years in office Fianna Fáil did nothing about equal pay but that they developed a conscience when they went into Opposition.
It appears the Minister has put the blame on the civil servants. Will he indicate if the views expressed in the speech were the views of the Government or his own views?
The Deputy has put that question already.
The speech went on to point out——
Answer the question.
——that Fianna Fáil were glib in demanding equal pay——
Answer the question.
Was it Government policy or not?
Order.
——which would have meant the imposition of additional taxation. Fianna Fáil did nothing about equal pay.
The Minister should answer the question and not run away from it.
(Interruptions.)
Order. These interruptions must cease.
The Minister should be man enough to own up to it. He should not blame the civil servants.
The Minister has not answered my question.
Fianna Fáil's policy would have meant the imposition of additional taxation and this was not acceptable to the Government. The budget showed that quite recently. The Deputy may also be assured that the statement issued by me was not contradicted by me on the following day, in contrast to the Fianna Fáil practice.
(Interruptions.)
Will the Minister tell the House if the views expressed in the speech were his own personal views or those of the Government? Was it one of collective responsibility or was it purely the Minister's private views?
The Deputy may be assured that any views expressed by me are those which reflect the collegiate responsibility of the Government.
In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I wish to raise this matter on the Adjournment.
The Chair will communicate with the Deputy.
The Deputy is always very good for light entertainment in the evening.