Embassy access to research and newspapers
Higgins warned that cutting Foreign Affairs resources could deprive the Department and embassies of necessary research, periodicals and newspapers, saying some subscriptions had reportedly been cancelled. The Taoiseach said the Government sought to reduce administrative paperwork, not important documents, and that such matters were kept under review.
Would the Taoiseach not agree that the Department of Foreign Affairs, more than most Departments of State, need to have available to them certain researched papers and that only somebody ideologically committed to attacking the public service would want severe cutbacks in the Department of Foreign Affairs which would mean they would not be informed of events around the world?
Comment on this
The Deputy is taking an exaggerated view of this. The Government are trying to reduce the volume of administrative paperwork. We are trying to mitigate the burdens that administration places on business, private enterprise and individuals. Also, from the point of view of the efficiency of our own Departments, we are trying to conduct audits and assessments to see how we can reduce the general level of administrative paperwork, not important documents or assessments.
Comment on this
My idea is that no curtailment should be placed on our embassies in respect of needed periodicals, researched papers and journals, including newspapers. I have been told they were instructed to end their subscription to some newspapers.
