Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 3 Jun 1993

Vol. 431 No. 8

Written Answers. - AIDS Prevention Campaign.

Charles Flanagan

Question:

127 Mr. Flanagan asked the Minister for Health if, in relation to the national AIDS television initiatives, he will give details of the scheme of arrangement for public tenders employed in consulting and agency work on behalf of his Department; the number of companies that applied; the names of the successful companies; the total Moneys paid, due or owing by the Department to consultant companies in connection with the campaign; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Health (Mr. Howlin):

The current national AIDS prevention campaign was recently launched by me on Monday, 24 May to commemorate Irish AIDS Day which took place on Saturday, 29 May.

In arranging for mass media campaigns my Department asked for at least three public tenders from different agencies. In the case of the recently made AIDS commercials five companies were invited to make presentations for a campaign that would cost either £200,000 or £250,000 which would include production costs and buy sufficient air time to ensure impact. The companies who competed were (1) ARKS Advertising Agency, who had been successful in winning the recent anti-tobacco campaign, for a similar budget, (2) Peter Owens Advertising, (3) Doherty Advertising, (4) Quinn, McDonnell and Pattison and (5) Quantum Communications Group. Quinn McDonnell and Pattison were successful in winning this tender as it was they who were adjudged to have met the brief most adequately and developed a concept that was most likely to be the most effective and influential in reducing the spread of HIV infection and AIDS.

To date £23,050 has been paid to QMP with respect to this campaign and final amount due will be paid on completion of the campaign.