asked the Taoiseach whether Markpress has a resident representative in Ireland; if so, where; and who he is.
2.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Markpress Agency.
1.
asked the Taoiseach whether Markpress employs Irish personnel in carrying out its contractual obligations to this State; and, if so, if he will state their number and qualifications.
With your approval, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 and 2 together.
I consider that it would not be appropriate to publish information, of the nature requested in Question No. 2, in relation to a private agency such as Markpress.
I might mention, however, that Markpress's representative in Ireland is Mr. Tony Fitzpatrick, who works from offices in the Gresham Hotel, Dublin.
Is the Taoiseach aware that an agent of Markpress on his way recently for consultations with the Irish Government took a plane to Belfast in the belief that he was on his way to the Republic of Ireland? Is that not a poor indication of the depth of knowledge which these agents have of Irish affairs?
This is the first I have heard of that but, if it is true, it is indeed an indication of the poor knowledge that the person concerned has of Irish affairs.
Would the Taoiseach ensure that the supply of information is better in the future than it has been in the past?
I am taking steps to ensure that.
Would the Taoiseach accept that it is a most questionable procedure that an international private agency such as he has mentioned, a public relations outfit, should now seem to be acting out of the Gresham Hotel, Dublin, as an official Irish Government Agency and that that sort of arrangement should surely be terminated as soon as possible and that the Government Information Bureau of the Taoiseach's own Department should be rapidly expanded as a national, official, State information agency?
I think what the Deputy has just said indicates his lack of appreciation of what this agency does. I should like to assure him that their location in the Gresham Hotel, in which an office is rented, is very acceptable, particularly to visiting journalists from other countries. I should like to remind the Deputy that it is a public relations operation also.
Could the Taoiseach say whether this office is rented by Markpress or is it rented by the Irish Government and made available to Markpress Agency?
I cannot give details of the financial provisions of the contract but overall there is a fee and there is provision in the contract for specialised payments. The Deputy may take it that, in effect, it is paid by the Exchequer in the overall financial arrangements made with Markpress.
3.
asked the Taoiseach if he has yet decided to make available copies of the information passed by his Department and other Government Departments and agencies to Markpress and of the publicity releases made by Markpress abroad; and, if he has not so decided, if he will state his reasons for withholding such information.
To direct Markpress to make available to Deputies its publicity releases would be to impose an undue burden on the agency but, as I indicated in this House on the 12th April last, I would be prepared to obtain for a Member of the House any particular release in which he or she might be interested.
The agency provides the Government with a public relations' service abroad and is not merely a channel for publicity releases. It would, therefore, be inappropriate to make available to Deputies the content of communications passing between Government Departments and the agency.
Does the Taoiseach not accept that Deputies are unlikely to identify particular releases unless they are made aware that the releases are being made and what the releases are? I submit to the Taoiseach that, where an agency of this kind is disseminating information in releases across the world, the least the Irish taxpayer, who is paying, might have available to him is a copy of these releases. That is the least that might be available to this House if not to individuals, certainly in the Library so that we can assess whether or not this contract should be renewed next year. Many of the Members and many members of the general public, and journalists in particular, have very grave doubts about the wisdom of renewing this agency contract.
All I can say is that I indicated in my original reply that it would impose an undue burden on the agency. It would more than likely cost the Government more also because this would mean extra work, extra distribution and dissemination of news.
One copy for the Library?
For the Library— that is a different thing.
I suggested that as a compromise.
I shall look into that for the Deputy. I take it he accepts my point about not communicating the content of messages that pass between Departments and the agency. As the Deputy is aware, and as I indicated to Deputy Desmond, they are a public relations operation also and it is not always possible to indicate what messages or communications are given by Departments to Markpress in that area.
If we see what Markpress are doing——
(Interruptions.)
Would the Taoiseach accept that Members of the House are in a highly invidious and embarrassing position if they have to contact a private public relations outfit in the Gresham Hotel if they want to find out what the international releases of the Government are, rather than, as should be the case, going to the Taoiseach's Government Information Bureau in Merrion Square? This should be the regular method and the other is quite undesirable.
Deputy Ryan made a suggestion which I said I would consider.