Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 27 Apr 1993

Vol. 429 No. 6

Written Answers. - Retention of Firms for Marketing Projects.

Ivan Yates

Question:

72 Mr. Yates asked the Minister for Finance 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.

Minister for Finance (Mr. B. Ahern)

There are no firms retained for market research or marketing purposes by my Department or by my Ministers of State or in the offices under my aegis. While no formal contract has yet been entered into and no payments have been made, certain professional services have been provided to me by Carr Communications Ltd. in the general area of public relations.

All routine advertising is awarded by contract to Brindley Advertising Ltd. under the State advertising contract, awarded on 10 June 1991 by the Office of Public Works in accordance with Government contract procedures and following competitive tendering.

The following expenditure was incurred in respect of advertising in 1992: Office of Revenue Commissioners, £807,000; Office of Public Works, £375,000; Civil Service Commission, £205,000; Department of Finance, £5,000; Office of the Ombudsman, £2,000.

The above expenditure for the Revenue Commissioners includes amounts for non-routine advertising for which tenders were also invited. It also contains items of expenditure such as customer service projects including trade shows, tax clinics and information seminars.