asked the Minister for Finance if he will give details of the venues and dates of auctions held by the Revenue Commissioners in respect of goods seized by customs officials because of smuggling offences over the past 12 months; the amount of money realised as a result of each such auction; the number and size of advertisements published in respect of each such auction; the newspapers in which such advertisements were published; the dates of publication; and the total cost of all advertising in respect of each such auction.

51.

asked the Minister for Finance if he is satisfied that the Revenue Commissioners give sufficient publicity to auctions of goods seized by customs officials on foot of attempted smuggling offences to ensure the maximum public support for such auctions.

I propose, with your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, to take Questions Nos. 50 and 51 together.

Normally only one auction is held each year by the Revenue Commissioners in respect of goods which have been seized or abandoned. Last year's auction was held at the Custom House, Dublin, on 26th November, 1968, and the amount of money realised at that auction was £4,763 10s. Advertisements in respect of the auction were inserted in each of the Dublin morning papers on 23rd November, 1968. The advertisements were approximately 2" x 2" in size. In addition, 50 printed posters were displayed in customs offices and various other Government offices. The total cost of all advertising in respect of the auction, including the cost of the posters, amounted to £22 5s 8d.

I am satisfied that the Revenue Commissioners give sufficient publicity to this annual auction.

Will the Minister say why, of the three daily papers, only two were selected for this purpose?

My information is that the advertisement was in three daily papers.

There are four.

Only two were selected.

No.

The Minister said so.

In each of the Dublin morning papers.

Were they inserted in the Cork Examiner, for instance?

If they were not, they should have been.

My information is that they were not.

We shall have to investigate that very thoroughly.

I hope you will.

There are very compelling reasons why at present we have to look after the Cork Examiner.

The Farmers' Journal got no advertisements for three years.

They survived the blizzard.