asked the Taoiseach if he has decided to suppress the position of Director of the Government Information Services.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Government Information Services Director
5.
I would refer the Deputy to my replies to questions on this subject on 29 November 1978. The position is unchanged.
Does the Taoiseach's reply mean that Ministers will continue to have facilities to abuse the services of the Government Information Services for party political reasons now as and when they see fit?
I reject that allegation completely. The services are not abused. The services are now in the same form as they were when the Coalition Government were in power when there were two successive press secretaries who were in charge of the office.
Is the Taoiseach telling the Dáil that the services of the GIS have never been abused by this Government for party political purposes?
That is argument.
The services have never been abused.
May I ask for an assurance that the Taoiseach when he says there is no change means that there is no question of speeches of a political character at political gatherings being issued through the GIS?
I understand the practice is that there is a certain type of issue from the GIS which clearly indicates that the matter is of an official and nonpartisan nature but in other cases they may, as requested, provide drafts of speeches or announcements made by Ministers which would not have the same official content. That has been the practice, was the practice during the Deputy's time and, as far as I know, continues to be the practice.
Dr. Fitzgerald
Would the Taoiseach not accept that the practice of issuing party political speeches to party gatherings through the GIS was not previously a practice and that if such an innovation has taken place it is and would be an innovation?
I do not believe there has been an innovation. I am told that the practice that obtained while the Deputy's Government were in power continues to obtain.
Under the practice which the Taoiseach is describing, who makes the decision as to whether a particular pronouncement is of a partisan nature or not, of a political nature or not?
I do not know exactly. The Minister himself would naturally be the first to judge whether it was of a party political nature. If he did not judge or exercise his judgment properly then the Government Press Secretary exercises his judgment.
The Taoiseach said he did not believe that that had been the previous position. If the Taoiseach finds out subsequently on inquiry that that was the position will he ensure that that position continues?
I express my belief on the basis of knowledge received.
We are getting into argument now.
Was that on the basis of inquiries that the Taoiseach had made?
Knowledge received I said, yes.