asked the Minister for the Environment if, in connection with his speech prepared for delivery at the annual dinner dance of the midwest regional branch of the Construction Industry Federation on 3 March, 1978 and issued officially by the Government Information Services, he considers it appropriate that speeches with a contentious party-political content should be officially issued by the Government Information Services on behalf of his Department.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Construction Industry Federation Speech.
11.
The speech in question was not a party-political speech, even if it included a statement of facts not likely to please the Opposition. Accordingly I consider that it was appropriate to issue it through the Government Information Services.
Would the Minister agree that a speech, which if the Ceann Comhairle will allow me to recite a line or two, which is unavoidable in a question like this, which refers to "the Fianna Fáil Party constantly pressing for a badly needed impetus for an industry which had gone through a few lean years after 1973" and which said that their calls for remedial action were "brushed aside by the Coalition Government—if one were foolish enough to believe them", is a party political statement which ought not to come through the Government Information Services? I make no great point about this as I have read this speech before.
It is a statement of fact.
The Minister is invincibly close-minded an this point. Since when has he been responsible for the Government Information Services?
I have never said that I was responsible for the Government Information Services. That is the responsibility of the Government.
Why then is the Minister answering this question?
The Deputy asked him the question.
I did not. I asked the Taoiseach but he was not man enough to answer it himself. Will the Minister tell the House why he is answering it?
I am answering it because the question is directed at me.
The question was sent to the Minister by his boss, because he would not answer it himself.
The question was referred to me as the appropriate Minister to answer it.
(Interruptions.)
I put down the question to the Taoiseach who has responsibility for the Government Information Services, but he has not answered it. The Minister said he has no responsibility for the Government Information Services.
I never said I had full responsibility for the Government Information Services.
I look to Deputy Kelly to give good example in the House.
Would you allow me to pursue in a Parliamentary manner, and in a way in which the Opposition are paid to do, this question of principle, whether the Minister will accept (1) that he personally or officially has no responsibility for the Government Information Services and, (2), that he has undertaken in this House to answer a question on a topic for which he has no responsibility?
I said that I as an individual Minister did not have responsibilty for the Government Information Bureau, but as a member of the Government I would be involved in collective responsibility.
Would the Minister not agree that the Government Information Services, so far as the understanding of every Member of this House goes, are administratively a part of the Taoiseach's Department and the Taoiseach has, traditionally, always answered questions about their operations?
I know they come under the Taoiseach's Department but the question as to whether he has always answered questions to do with other Ministers——
This happens again and again. The Taoiseach pushes questions on to his colleagues.
I am calling Question No. 12.
(Interruptions.)
Can the question be resubmitted for the Taoiseach's Department?
The question of who is responsible for answering it is not for discussion at Question Time.
I realise you have no control over it, and I do not want to make anything out of it. This is a trivial matter, long since forgotten, but the question of principle of who is responsible for the machinery that issues it is what is important.
The question had to do with me as Minister for the Environment.