Vol. 424 No. 6
6 Mr. Garland asked the Minister for Tourism, Transport and Communications the reason it was felt necessary to invoke special powers under the Broadcasting Authority Act, 1960, to allow for a special radio and television broadcast by the Taoiseach two days before the Maastricht referendum; and the reason such action was not taken during the referendum on the Single European Act.
The powers under section 31 (2) of the Broadcasting Authority Act were used as it was felt that it was necessary for An Taoiseach, as Prime Minister, to take every opportunity to inform the public about the Maastricht Treaty, given the importance of the issue. The decision to use the provision in this instance was upheld by the High Court.
My Department has no record of the question of the use of section 31 (2) being raised during the Single European Act referendum.
Can the Minister tell us on how many previous occasions a Taoiseach sought to speak to the nation under this section of the 1960 Act?
Do not put any ideas into the Taoiseach's mind.
This clause was used on 19 previous occasions.
Was it ever used on the occasion of a previous referendum or election? Surely these special powers were used in cases of national emergency and not to make a political case about a referendum. Will the Minister give some examples of when this power was used before?
It was used in April 1986 by the then Taoiseach, in October 1985 by the then Minister for Health, in March 1983 by the then Taoiseach, in July 1981 by the then Minister for Finance and the then Taoiseach, in September 1980 by the then Taoiseach, in January 1980 by the then Taoiseach, in September 1979 by the then Minister for Defence, in May 1979 by the then Minister for Posts and Telegraphs, in March 1979 by the then Minister for Social Welfare, in December 1975 by the then Taoiseach, in April 1975 by the then Taoiseach, in May 1974 by the then Taoiseach, in January 1974 by the then Minister for Defence, on 22 November 1973 by the then Taoiseach, in November 1973 by the then Minister for Health, in February 1972 by the then Minister for Defence, in October 1970 by the then Minister for Finance and in July 1970 by the then Taoiseach.
Can the Minister tell us whether the Taoiseach has any intention of using this measure between now and 3 December, or will the Government have gone into terminal decline before then?
I have had no indication that its use is contemplated in regard to the 3 December referenda.
A national emergency might——
The referenda might be overtaken by other events.
Deputy Byrne is offering.
Deputy Dukes essentially robbed my question, but I will rephrase it. Does the Minister not think it is now timely that these powers were involved to explain to the people what is happening in regard to the Coalition Government?
We are deviating from the subject matter of our questions. Question No. 7.
It is our principal concern——
It is an enjoyable deviation.
