Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 27 Apr 1993

Vol. 429 No. 6

Written Answers. - Retention of Firms for Marketing Projects.

Ivan Yates

Question:

57 Mr. Yates asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will give details of the firms which have been retained by State-sponsored bodies in his departmental area and that of his Minister of State for market research, advertising, public relations and marketing purposes; the projects, if any, which are being carried out by each of these firms; the fees or retainers, if any, which are being paid for each of these projects; the duration of the contract for each project; if all services were secured through tendering; and if he will give details of the tendering procedures.

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Spring)

No firms have been retained for these purposes by the two agencies which operate under the aegis of the Minister for Foreign Affairs. The agencies concerned are the Agency for Personal Service Overseas, APSO, and the Refugee Agency.

Ivan Yates

Question:

58 Mr. Yates asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will give details of the firms which have been retained in his departmental area and that of his Minister of State for market research, advertising, public relations and marketing purposes; the projects, if any, which are being carried out by each of these firms; the fees or retainers, if any, which are being carried out for each of these projects; the duration of the contract for each project; if all such services were secured through tendering; and if he will give details of the tendering procedure used.

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Spring)

In the period since my appointment, no companies have been retained for the purposes of market research, public relations or marketing either by the Department of Foreign Affairs or by the Office of the Tánaiste.

The Office of the Tánaiste has had no advertising requirements to date. The advertising requirements of the Department of Foreign Affairs are handled by Brindley Advertising Limited which, at the direction of the Minister for Finance, was awarded the State advertising contract for a three year period with effect from 31 May 1991. Details of that contract are a matter for the Office of Public Works.