asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the steps the Government propose to take to redress the image created abroad by sections of the British media of Ireland as a backward country; and if the views of the Irish Government on the sustained campaign of hostility being directed against Ireland by sections of the British media have been communicated to the British Ambassador in Dublin.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - British Media Image of Ireland.
14.
In the course of the general election the British and international media reported extensively and seriously on Irish issues and, like our own media, concentrated on the debate about our economy. Indeed, I would like to acknowledge the objective reporting of that debate by some representatives of the British media based permanently in Ireland.
The distorted coverage of Irish issues and of the Irish economy, to which the Deputy refers, was largely confined to some articles in the British media. For reasons best known to themselves the authors of these articles concentrated exclusively on our difficulties while ignoring our strengths and our successes. These articles did have an influence beyond Britain and I recognise that such unfavourable publicity could have a damaging effect if left unchecked.
A major responsibility of my Department is the proper presentation of the country's image abroad. Every Embassy establishes close contacts with the local media and encourages them to look to our offices as reliable and authoritative sources of information on Ireland. In addition we have press and information officers in most of the countries of major concern to us. In the case of our Embassy in London we have two press officers. These are diplomatic officers of First Secretary rank who maintain close contact with key journalists in the British and foreign media based in London. There is, of course, regular consultation both at home and abroad between my Department and those State-sponsored agencies which are involved in the promotion of our economic interests overseas. I can assure the House that all of these resources are being concentrated to promote a positive image of Ireland abroad.
During the Taoiseach's recent visit to the United States both he and I availed of major media opportunities to draw American attention to Ireland's economic potential and attractiveness as a location for investment. The forthcoming budget will provide another important occasion when we will continue to build international confidence in our economy. It is, after all, our policies and actions at home which in the main will determine how others see us.
The Deputy asks about contacts with the British Ambassador on these issues. I am sure the British authorities will be fully aware of the impact which ill-informed or politically motivated articles can have on opinion in both our countries. However, in countries with a free press it is not the practice of Governments to complain to one another about media coverage. This has also been the practice of successive Irish Governments.
I would ask the Minister to extend his last remark. Would he agree that this coverage from certain sections of the British media was not random but was sustained? In so far as this type of coverage has been sustained for a long period of time, is it not against the spirit of the Anglo-Irish Agreement, which in its early clauses refers to friendship between the two islands and so forth?
I would go along with the Deputy in deploring the nature, content and format of a number of these very malicious articles that appeared in some sections of the British press and then found currency elsewhere. One of the main reasons the Taoiseach and I went to the United States was to ensure that a general reassurance was given to the US Administration, Congress and public that Ireland has participated in a general election in a democratic manner, that there had been a democratic change of Government and that as far as this Government are concerned the emphasis is and will be on investment, economic development, the promotion of tourism and raising specific issues such as the problems of our immigrants in the United States. We had a very pragmatic visit in the United States designed to deal with the matters which could have been damaged by the sort of press referred to by Deputy Higgins.
While acknowledging that there is merit in replying to the British media in the United States, if attacks on the Irish community in Britain continue does the Minister propose at any stage to have talks with the British Ambassador and to point out that such sustained attacks are unfriendly?
We will follow it up if it appears on every front, and particularly in Britain, that things are as the Deputy suggests.
I am now moving on to Private Notice Questions, unless the House may desire to deal with the last two remaining questions to the Minister. Is that agreed? Agreed.
I should like to ask one supplementary.
Order. I am calling Question No. 15.